Interesting Observations

[brennapayne]

I just wanted to point out something that I found quite interesting about the novel.  Holcomb is portrayed as this perfect little town where everyone enjoys life and is genuinely decent to their fellow community members.  However, throughout the first section the author sneaks in a few instances that hint at the cracks in the community's foundation.  An obvious flaw in this exemplary community would include Mrs. Clutter's psychological issues, but we can go even deeper to analyze others' opinions of her supposed "illness".  Following the crime, Mrs. Kidwell cries "Oh, Bonnie, Bonnie what happened? You were so happy, you told me it was all over, you said you'd never be sick again".  Her statement reiterates Mrs. Clutter's flaw but also hints at how she may suspect Bonnie of having something to do with the crime, as if she had organized or carried out the killing herself.  Another imperfection of the community is displayed in the sayings in Nancy's needlework such as "Happy? and You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Live Here But It Helps".  These phrases uncover what may have been going through Nancy's mind.  Maybe she wasn't truly happy in Holcomb. 

[sophicalhoun]

Excellent point, Gracie. Though I feel, especially going off of Frankl's case, that environment (not necessarily 'unclean', either) plastic a major role in the emergence of our morals and unconscious individuality. You don't have to be hit over the head with the idea that genocide is wrong to realise that it isn't right. Although this does bring about the question of when does environment no longer hold substantial influence over us as independent thinkers, and when are we able to form knowledgable opinions an thoughts?