Conscience

Consience seems to be mentioned in Section 3 of In Cold Blood more than in any other Section so far. In Section 3, conscience-an indiviudal's overpowering part that can drive one to feel fear and guilt, is demonstrated through Perry and Floyd Wells. First, with the introduction of Floyd Wells, his conscience is mentioned on Page 162, stating, "But he knew.Presently,tortured by a need to 'tell somebody,' he confided in another prisoner. 'A particular friend. A Cathollic. Kind of very religious. He asked me, 'Well, what are you gonna do,Floyd?I said, Well, I didn't rightly know-what did he think I ought to do?Well, he was all for me going to the proper people. Said he didn't think I ought to live with something like that on my mind." (163). Floyd Wells was aware of the killers' identity, and after finding out about the murder commited (something he took as a joke when the plan about the murder was shared with him), was in desperate need to tell someone about it. It is clearly described how he was tortured by guilt of his knowledge, and therefore attempted to clear his conscience by speaking to a very religious Catholic friend who told him to do the right thing and tell the police. Perry's consciense is also getting the best of him by bringing fear upon him while he is in the self-service laundry called Washateria. As he sits down to rest, fear falls upon him as dire images and thoughts of him and Dick getting caught, run through his mind. His fear is imposed upon him by his underlying conscience, that reminds him of what he has done so foul.