Analysis Of The Chapter Of In Cold Blood

The second chapter of ' 'In Cold Blood ' ' focuses on the aftermath of the murders. While the townspeople and investigators cope with the murder of the Clutter family, the killers make their way to Mexico.

Aftermath of the Murders

The Clutters ' neighbors try to make sense of the brutal massacre of an entire family in Chapter 2 of Truman Capote 's In Cold Blood. Andy Erhart, Herb Clutter 's friend of thirty years, describes Herb in glowing terms. 'Everything Herb had, he earned - with the help of God. He was a modest man but a proud man as he had a right to be. He raised a fine family. He made something of his life. ' The fact that all four members of the Clutter family were so well-liked makes the crime all the more difficult for the community

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The Investigation

In Cold Blood

Alvin Dewey, of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, is in charge of the investigation. Dewey is described as 'professionally qualified to cope with even as intricate an affair as the apparently motiveless, all but clueless Clutter murders. '

The crime is personal to Dewey as well since he and his wife were the Herb and Bonnie Clutters ' friends. Dewey describes the massacre as the worst he has ever seen. 'But even if I hadn 't known the family, and liked them so well, I wouldn 't feel any different, ' he says. 'Because I 've seen some bad things, I sure as hell have. But nothing so vicious as this. However long it takes, it maybe the rest of my life, I 'm going to know what happened in that house: the why and the who. '

At home, Dewey finds himself obsessing over the crime scene photographs. 'Like those puzzles. The ones that ask, 'How many animals can you find in

Perry is concerned that they may have left clues at the Clutter home, but Dick is certain that they have committed the perfect crime. 'We hit the ball right out of park. It 's lost. And

it 's gonna stay lost. There isn 't a single connection. '

Perry is still concerned, however, and watches the newspapers for stories about the murders. He even reads an account of the Clutters ' funeral in The Kansas City Star. The article draws attention to the townspeople 's respect for the family: 'A thousand persons, the largest crowd in the five-year history of the First Methodist Church, attended services for the four victims today. . . . '

Perry, who is far more introspective than Dick, wonders about the choices the two ex-convicts have made in their lives. 'I think there must be something wrong with us, ' he says. As the two discuss the causes of criminal behavior, Perry remembers a letter from his sister. In it, she writes, 'There is no shame - having a dirty face - the shame comes when you keep it dirty. ' Perry, who has had an altercation with his father, is angered by what he views as his sister preaching to him. Alienated from his family, Perry clings to Dick, viewing him as a strong, masculine