How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
And a tough, strutty little man said, "I believe in capital punishment. It's like the Bible says—an eye for an eye. And even so we're two pair short!" (3.497)
Like we said, not everyone agreed with Herb's son-in-law. To this guy, it was very clear what the right thing to do was. Is it just us, or does Capote seem to imply that this "strutty little man" was somehow less morally advanced than Howard Fox?
Quote #8
[…] Mrs. Meier, a direct and practical woman who nevertheless seems illuminated by a mystical serenity. As the undersheriff's helpmate her hours are long; between five in the morning when she begins the day by reading a chapter in the Bible […] (4.2)
We later learn that Mrs. Meier is really kind to Perry—she holds his hand when he cries, she cooks his favorite food. She grows very fond of him and sees a gentleness in him (which her husband finds pretty laughable). Capote seems to throw out the idea here that this is a result of her living her Christian faith. Do you agree? Unlike others during Perry's time in prison, Mrs. Meier doesn't push her religious beliefs on him.
Quote #9
I am, or try to be, a fairly religious [Catholic]. I wasn't always. I used to just drift along […] I never considered death or the possibility of a life hereafter. And this is why I'm writing to you: because God made you as well as me and He loves you just as He loves me […]. (4.24)
This letter from Don Cullivan, an army buddy of Perry's, is the beginning of Don's effort to bring Perry to God and repentance. Cullivan was also aimless and fell into crime but turned himself around by turning to religion. Perry isn't moved by all the religious stuff in the letter, but he sees the kindness in Don's reaching out to him, so he writes back. Good luck with that, Don.