How Does Truman Capote Dehumanize The Clutter Murders

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, was a non-fictional novel published in 1965. Written in four parts, Capote meticulously details the brutal 1959 murders of the recognized farmer Herbert Clutter, Bonie Clutter, Nancy Clutter and Kenyon Clutter in the small, once peaceful, city of Holcomb, Kansas. Throughout the book, while Capote sympathetically depicts the murders of the Clutter family, we also realize that the author has a strong sympathy for one of the murders called Perry Edward Smith. Although the novel was intended to be written in a journalistic form, Capote seems to fictionalize much of the information used to write the novel in order to add suspense and certain reactions from the readers. Truman Capote’s new literary form of “the non-fictional novel” leaves the readers feeling conflicting emotions

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, epitomizes the varying sentiments associated with the murder of the Clutter family; these emotions range from shock, to grief, to pride, and everything in between. However, through Capote’s specialized descriptions about each character, the relationships between their feelings and their actions become further elucidated. As a result, the readers begin to feel sympathy for the victims, their friends and family, the investigators, and even those who brutally murdered an innocent family. In order to create this connection, he utilizes the rhetoric device of pathos to strengthen the audience’s ability to sympathize.

In Cold Blood is a nonfiction novel by Truman Capote, first published in 1966. The book’s content narrates the account of the savage killing of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, in 1959. Capote spent six years researching and interviewing the people involved in the case, and the resulting book is a detailed account of the crime and its aftermath, as well as a portrait of the two killers, Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith. “It seems that for Capote the American society has always been intrigued by the phenomenon of crime, the mystery surrounding it, as well as the suspense connected with crime stories” (Wróbel 8). Capote effectively establishes a sense of intimacy with the characters and their motives through his immersive and descriptive

In Cold Blood is a novel based on true events of a murder written by Truman Capote. Perry Smith and Richard Dick, have committed murders of four family members of the Clutter family. From the beginning, it is obvious that the novel focuses on many characters and one becomes more interested in learning about how their personalities will open out during the novel. Several characters in the novel fit the description of the protagonist, including Perry, Dick and Herb Clutter. Therefore, the most expand the character and the obvious protagonist in the novel is Perry Smith as the narrative revolves so much around him.

Dick Hickock and Perry Smith are the antagonists. Dick is the mastermind behind the crime, he has no compassion or guilt for the crime’s he has committed. His friendship with his so call friend Perry is a lie he was only interested in him because Perry told him that he killed a person once and Dick hope that he could bring forth Perry’s murderous nature for his “score”. He has been married two times and has two children, but he is not a faithful husband or good father. He get's motivated by what he does not have, lust and greed are what he mainly acts on.

Truman Capote’s famous 1966 story, In Cold Blood, documents the murders of the Clutter family in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. A best fact-crime novel winner, In Cold Blood, was published by Random House and was described as a masterpiece by various critics. Capote’s purpose in writing this book was to portray the various perspectives of all those impacted by the murder by using a dramatic tone, diction, and an appeal to reason to inform readers about this violent crime. Capote uses an appeal to reason to describe the perspectives of those associated with and affected by the murders. In Chapter 2, Capote describes the murderers, specifically Perry and his childhood trauma describing how Perry dealt with an alcoholic mother and

In Cold Blood is a novel based on true events of a murder written by Truman Capote. Perry Smith and Richard Dick, have committed murders of four family members of the Clutter family. From the beginning, it is obvious that the novel focuses on many characters and one becomes more interested in learning about how their personalities will open out during the novel. Several characters in the novel fit the description of the protagonist, including Perry, Dick and Herb Clutter. Therefore, the most expand the character and the obvious protagonist in the novel is Perry Smith as the narrative revolves so much around him.

How crazy would it be to interview criminals who murdered 4 people in cold blood? Well that’s exactly what Truman Capote did in this chilling book. In the novel In Cold Blood, Truman Capote used different rhetorical strategies to create sympathy and influence the idea that there are always two sides to every story. Some of the mainly used rhetorical strategies throughout the novel were imagery, diction, tone, and pathos. Furthermore, Capote also illustrated sympathetical emotion towards both types of characters, the protagonists and antagonists.

He manipulated him in many ways, mainly during the execution of the crime, where he forced Perry to slaughter all four of the Clutters. Truman Capote makes it apparent that "It was Hickock who had forced Smith to take part in the murders, who had led him astray, who had destroyed him" (Capote 246). Perry was a victim of his influence, and was led down a destructive path that eventually led to both of their deaths. Moreover, Truman Capote contrasts their personalities; "Hickock, the mastermind of the crime, was the more vicious of the two...Smith, on the other hand, was a mixed-up kid who had been led down the wrong path by his older, more experienced partner" (Capote 93). Perry was very vulnerable and impressionable, so Dick took advantage of it.

In Cold Blood Essay #2 Although Perry commited a terrible crime, Capote depicts perry as a innocent and push-over person; therefore, true guilt falls upon the manipulator. Capote writes Dick and Perry as two very seperate people that have underlying differences. Perry tells an anecdote about his initial feelings towarrds Dick explaining why he said the things he said, “‘Deep down,” Perry continued, “way, way rock-bottom, I never thought I could do it. A thing like that.”

Perry Smith and Dick Hickock have both committed some horrible crimes. With very little commitment or love in Perry's childhood, this could make a child grow up cold, brittle, and rough. It could make a man tough as steel, yet as malleable as putty. With Dick it is a little different, He had loving parents and was a great student, yet as he grew so did his problems with money, alcohol, and women. Back in the city of Holcomb, Kansas before the murders made nationwide news, no one really heard of the town.

The subject of this work is crime and punishment; more specifically, the murder of the Clutter family. Truman Capote researches and includes every detail possible for his writing. He includes multiple life stories of the characters, the crime itself, the confessions of the murderers, the trial, and the executions in order to make In Cold Blood as credible as possible. He also very subtly expresses his thoughts and opinions on the punishment Perry Smith receives in court, death. Capote’s opinions on this subject throughout the novel gives the reader insight on how Capote truly felt towards the court's decision pertaining to Perry Smith and the crime he committed.

In Cold Blood is a novel based on true events of a murder written by Truman Capote. Perry Smith and Richard Dick, have committed murders of four family members of the Clutter family. From the beginning, it’s obvious that the novel focuses on many characters and one becomes more interested in learning about how their personalities will open out during the novel. Several characters in the novel fit the description of the protagonist, including Perry, Dick and Herb Clutter. Therefore, the most expand the character and the obvious protagonist in the novel is Perry Smith as the narrative revolves so much around him.

Truman Capote, the author of In Cold Blood, considers his book to be a non-fiction novel. This form of literature is known as a“prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history.” Although this book is said to be a non-fiction novel, Capote leaves a certain sense of self-implication in the text. The reader feels certain emotional characteristics in the author’s writing and senses a lot of emotion lingering throughout the novel. The emotions shown in this book are Sympathy, repugnance and the disapproval of actions committed.

The audience can see the evil that resides in humans with Capote's writing technique of going into the midst of the killers and citizens of holcomb kansas. Human morals are better understood by all . The readers see how mental health affects a person's evil nature and morals by connecting the behavior of the killers to symptoms of the mental disorders. In Cold Blood still has a sense of relevance in today's society as it is one of the must reads for AP literature. Truman Capote's work of art is still relevant today because of the themes and struggles a person can have and the consequences of not seeking help.