As Dick is continuously questioned, he never stops lying. Dick states, “Hickock said, ‘Perry Smith killed the Clutters.’ He lifted his head, and slowly straightened up in the chair, like a fighter staggering to his feet. ‘It was Perry. I couldn’t stop him. He killed them all’” (230). Though Dick creates the whole scheme for the murder, he refuses to admit his involvement. While Dick continues to put all the blame on Perry, his real nature reveals itself. Because Dick will not admit to his involvement, one can see his wretched personality. Though Dick never admits feeling any sense of compunction, Perry will truthfully admit his emotional and moral involvement. Perry admits, “I didn’t want to harm the man. I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat” (244). As Dick cowardly accuses Perry of everything that took place, Perry bravely admits his responsibilities in the murders. Although Perry participates in the murder, all of his confessions show he is not a cold blooded killer. Perry states, “He was holding the knife. I asked him for it, and he gave it to me, and I said, ‘All right, Dick. Here goes.’ But I didn’t mean it. I meant to call his bluff, make him argue me out of it, make him admit he was a phony and a coward” (244). As Perry recalls his actions, he understands what he did was strangely out of fear of letting Dick down. The confessions of the regret reveal that Perry understands the immorality while Dick continues to deny his
As Dick is continuously questioned, he never stops lying. Dick states, “Hickock said, ‘Perry Smith killed the Clutters.’ He lifted his head, and slowly straightened up in the chair, like a fighter staggering to his feet. ‘It was Perry. I couldn’t stop him. He killed them all’” (230). Though Dick creates the whole scheme for the murder, he refuses to admit his involvement. While Dick continues to put all the blame on Perry, his real nature reveals itself. Because Dick will not admit to his involvement, one can see his wretched personality. Though Dick never admits feeling any sense of compunction, Perry will truthfully admit his emotional and moral involvement. Perry admits, “I didn’t want to harm the man. I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat” (244). As Dick cowardly accuses Perry of everything that took place, Perry bravely admits his responsibilities in the murders. Although Perry participates in the murder, all of his confessions show he is not a cold blooded killer. Perry states, “He was holding the knife. I asked him for it, and he gave it to me, and I said, ‘All right, Dick. Here goes.’ But I didn’t mean it. I meant to call his bluff, make him argue me out of it, make him admit he was a phony and a coward” (244). As Perry recalls his actions, he understands what he did was strangely out of fear of letting Dick down. The confessions of the regret reveal that Perry understands the immorality while Dick continues to deny his