Freedom

In an attempt to justify Perry’s emotional instability, Capote often refers to the freedom that Perry yearns for, but is unattainable. Oppressed as a child, Perry was rarely happy where he lived. He “never stayed nowhere too long” because he was treated poorly and always felt that there was something better to be found where he would not be held back (132). His father is aware of this traversing quality stating, “freedom is everything to him” (129). Even those around him can tell that he feels the constant need to run. Though Perry desires liberty, he has never been fully given this right. When he finally was old enough to pursue freedom, he was not able to hold onto it for long. He was “somewhat reckless and speed crazy with motorcycles and light cars. But since he has had a good taste of what speed will do, and his both legs Broke & hip injury he now has slowed down on that” (128). This lack of mobility further heightened Perry’s need for freedom, which has been made even harder to achieve. Perry feels most distressed when reading the supposedly encouraging letter his sister wrote him. When Perry confides to her that he so desperately needs this independence she impersonally rebuts, “We are all free to speak & do as we individually will—providing this ‘freedom’ of Speech & Deed are not injurious to our fellow man” (142). By belittling Perry’s necessity for freedom, she only aggravates him more, thus causing him to emotionally explode. Because of his nature to be emotional instable, Perry overreacts to this lack of freedom, explaining his rash decisions to commit crimes.