Essential Question #3

[ajguth]

The environment in which a person is raised is very much an influential factor that affects their future. More often than not, it seems as though the majority of society continues to practice the same actions or beliefs that were imposed on them while growing up, due to the fact that those are "truths" to them since they were not taught any differently. As a result, most people seem to be limited to achieve only what has been done by those who have gone before them and impressed those "truths" upon them. For example, Perry Smith suffered from abandonment issues throughout his childhood and grew up with a heavy criminal record. Although his behavior is not condoned, it is viewed as somewhat predictable by society because of how he was brought up. However, it is possible for these people to overcome their hardships and exceed expectations. The author of the book, Truman Capote, had a similar background as Smith, but by making different choices and being determined to defeat his preconceived fate, Capote became an influential author who lived a rather extravagant life. On the other hand, those who are raised in different environments, perhaps those that are more affluent and in which education is more prominent, are expected to accomplish much more because of their wider range of opportunity. For example, Nancy,a very beautiful and talented young lady, comes from a very well-off family, in which the parents are very loving and involved in the children's lives, and religion and education are highly valued. Because of the Clutters' good reputation throughout Holcomb, and even throughout all of Kansas, it is expected that the children of Mr. and Mrs. Clutter would be respectable people, and would grow up to be just as well-liked, caring, and important to society as their parents, if not more so. However, this does not mean that all of these people remain seemingly perfect throughout their lives;it can be just as easy for people who were brought up in good environments to backslide. I believe that while the majority of society proves to be "products of their environment", decisions, along with opportunities, allow people to prevail over this notion.

[Ellie Farley]

I agree with you completely. Just like how you mentioned, people in "good environments can backslide". Dick Hickock, the other murderer, is a perfect example of this. His upbringing was "normal" and conducive to creating a well-rounded individual, but he became a hardened criminal with many marks on his record. It seems as though his environment had little impact on his behavior and his innate character overcame his outside influences. This demonstrates the uncertainty of how much we can actually be products of our environment. Some seem more influenced by it than others. But there's no way we can really know if they only seem influenced by their environment but their nature is actually just similar to it. Therefore, it only appears that their environment is shaping them, when in actuality it could be the beliefs and behaviors their genes had already built in them.