Perry's loss of interest

While Perry was never really content or happy about life in the earlier sections of the book, the final part of the book shows Perry losing interest in life all together. Before, it seemed, that Perry was not "enjoying" but was "tolerating" Dick and Perry's escape. Perry had things he still wanted to do with his life, despite having an inescapable fate. After the arrest, however, Perry seemed to have lose his motivation to live. He hardly talked during his stay in the "woman's cell" and (according to movie) was completely uninterested during his trial.

When the two were convicted, Perry really changed. He had gotten the attention he wanted during the trial, and now had all his rights stripped away from him in prison. While Dick tried to get them out of "Death Row," Perry spent his time doing little to nothing. as Perry puts it he would, "pretend I'm a tiny little baby that can't keep its eyes open"(321). Eventually Perry tries to starve himself to death in prison. "At the beginning of June he stopped eating altogether-he told Dick, 'You can wait around for the rope. But not me"(318). Although Perry survives this attempt, it is clear he does not care about life or himself at all anymore.

I think this is because Perry was looking for something to live for when he got in trouble by killing the clutters. This de-railed his plans, and when he was imprisoned, he realized he would never be able to search for something to live for. He figured his life was a waste and didn't see any reason in furthering it. In the movie it depicts Perry pulling through his hunger strike due to his relationship with Truman Capote. While I'm sure it made up for his loneliness, even Capote couldn't keep Perry happy with life.