In Cold Blood, what do Perry tears after listening to 'Oh Come Let Us Adore Him' indicate about his character and personality?

With his new
genre of journalistic ,presents facts through the vortex of the personal histories of the
victims and criminals, especially Perry Edward Smith, about whom Capote was intrigued because
like Capote himself, Perry possessed artistic talents and was marginalized by his
behavior--although Capote's homosexual behavior disapproved of by relatives finds no similarity
with Perry Smith's behavior.

Certainly, Capote's portrayal of Smith raises
questions. In her essay on Capote's book, Lydia Kim writes,

Perhaps portraying Smith in such a manner provided Capote with a much-needed and
perfectly oblique means ofand finger-pointing. Smith and Hickock are almost perfect
illustrations of Dickens' child symbols Ignorance and Want in €˜€˜A Christmas Carol.

Thus, Capote finds in Hickock and Smith "the wanton as well as
inexplicable nature of existence" in the human . For, the sensitive Capote, the complexity
of Smith's life, especially, does not permit a categorization of him simply as killer. Instead,
he is both victim and victimizer, perhaps wreaking revenge upon those who represent the American
ideal, an ideal which has never been within his reach. 

While they reside at
335 Ocean Drive in Miami, Christmas arrives and Perry asks Richard why he has not wished him a
"Merry Christmas." As it common, this season brings with it many sentimental memories
as well as feelings of loneliness for those not with family. So, perhaps, Perry is brought to
tears as he hears "O Come Let Us Adore Him" as he recalls his traumatic years in the
Catholic orphanages and other lonesome Christmases. For, with this song and its emotional
stirrings, Perry contemplates suicide--not an uncommon thought for many lonely souls at
Christmas, either. Perry cries for his lost youth, his lost family, his lost
happiness. 

...an exalted music that moved him to
tears--which refused to stop even after the music did. And as was no uncommon when he was thus
afflicted, he dwelt upon a possibility that had for him "tremendous fascination":
suicide.

This poignant scene illustrates that Perry is
not just a cold-bloodied killer; instead, he is sensitive and artistic at times. Through this
portrayal of Perry Smith as a complex character, this author condemns society as well as the
murderer in his "human tragedy."