In Cold Blood Post #4

April 28th, 2015

Write a review of the book, rating the novel on a 1-5 scale (1 being poor to 5 being excellent).

 After reading In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5. I thought that Truman Capote did an excellent job with laying out the events involving the Clutter case in this book. Capote divided the case into 4 sections: “The Last to See them Alive”, “Person’s Unknown”, “The Answer”, and “The Corner”. Each of these subsections allow the audience to gradually move more about the case throughout the book. The first section sets the scene, describing Holcomb as a quiet, lonely town- a place unlikely for a murder to occur. It also describes the different characters throughout the book, portraying the Clutters as a wholesome and caring family, liked by everyone. The next couple of sections then go on to explain the murder, the motives behind the murder, and the court process. I appreciated the fact that Capote divided the different events in the murder into sections because it created suspense throughout the book. While reading about the murder, I wondered “what motivated the criminals to murder the Clutter family?” Then once I learned about the criminals motives and how they planned the murder, I wondered how the court system would decide to punish the murderers- as the Christians in Holcomb likely were against the death penalty. 

In regards to the punishment that the murderers received, it seemed like Capote was sympathetic towards Perry Smith. Although Perry was guilty for murdering all of the Clutters, he is characterized as a more thoughtful and respectable character than Dick. Perry seems sensitive and is sorry for what he has done wrong. For example, when Perry is giving his testimony to one of the investigators he states:

“ But I didn't mean it. I meant to call his bluff, make him argue me out of it, make him admit he was a phony and a coward. See, it was something between me and Dick. I knelt down beside Mr. Clutter, and the pain of kneeling - I thought of that goddam dollar. Silver dollar. The shame. Disgust. And they'd told me never to come back to Kansas. But I didn't realize what I'd done till I heard the sound. Like somebody drowning. Screaming underwater” (Capote 157). 

When Perry says this, the audience feels sympathetic towards him. Although he might have killed the Clutter family, he truly felt sorry about committing the murder and was only doing so in order to kill Dick- a ruthless and cruel character. It is clear that Perry feels awful for what he did, as he says: “The shame. Disgust.” I thought that it was interesting how Perry  seemed to be a sensitive character, even though he had committed a horrendous crime. When Perry and Dick are executed for their crimes towards the end of the book, I found myself sympathizing for Perry, even though he was a murderer. I thought that it was interesting how Capote could cause readers to feel sympathetic towards a man who slaughtered an entire family. 

Although I liked this book and found it fascinating, I also felt that it was a little dull at times. It seemed like Capote included every single aspect of the Clutter case- and apparently not all of this information was not even accurate. I think that I would have enjoyed this book more if it didn’t give every single detail involving the case- and had provided the essential facts. However, overall I felt that this book was very informative and had interesting aspects in it as well. 

In Cold Blood: Socratic Seminar Question

In then end, Dewey reunites with Sue. Why does Capote choose to end the novel is this way?

At the end of In Cold Blood, Truman Capote shares what happens four years after the Clutter family was murdered. Capote uses Dewey, the lead investigator in the Clutter case, to explain what happened years after the Clutter case. It seems appropriate for Capote to end the book with an account from Dewey, because Dewey was very involved in the Clutter Court case and determined to see it through. Throughout the book, the audience sees how Dewey sacrificed family time and his daily routine in order to unearth the answers to his investigation. During the trial, Capote conveys how busy Dewey’s life is: “Now Mrs. Dewey said, ‘Alvin, answer me. Do you think we'll ever have a normal life again?’ He started to reply, but the telephone stopped him (Capote 65). Clearly, the Clutter case became one of Dewey’s main priorities, and he barely had time to tend to his family. However, as Capote ends the story with an account from Dewey, the audience is relieved that all the stress from the trials are gone. The case has come to an end, and Dewey seems much more relaxed. It is evident that his family life is more stable, as Capote states: “Instead, the Deweys had built a new house in town; they were proud of it, and proud, too, of both their sons, who were deep-voiced now and as tall as their father” (Capote 217). The audience can understand from this that Dewey has had time to focus on his family and move on in life. The house that is referred to in this sentence also serves as a symbol of Dewey’s stable family life; how they are all united and living together as one family, proud of the home that they built themselves. As Dewey’s account continues, the audience sees him walking through the local cemetery, recalling different deaths while also noting causes for celebration. He remarks that Judge Tate had died the falling autumn, however Bobby Rupp happened to have gotten married. This bit of information especially resonates with the audience because Bobby Rupp’s marriage proves that he was able to move on life, and set aside his sorrow for Nancy’s death.

Dewey’s last account in the book seems to serve as a reminder that people move on in life, and how people can set aside their sorrows to live more stable lives. Truman Capote even incorporates Susan Kidwell, Nancy’s best friend, in the last couple of passages in the story to prove how people can move on. Dewey encounters Susan in the graveyard, and doesn’t recognize her at first. Susan has matured and is finishing her junior year at the University of Kansas- just like she was planning to do with Nancy Clutter. It is evident that Susan has not forgotten Nancy as she remarks: ‘"Nancy and I planned to go to college together. We were going to be roommates. I think about it sometimes. Suddenly, when I'm very happy, I think of all the plans we made’”(Capote 219). Although Susan lost her closest friend in the murder, it is clear that she was able to overcome her sorrow and cherish the best memories. Capote wraps up the end of the book with a peaceful statement: “ ‘And nice to have seen you, Sue. Good luck,’he called after her as she disappeared down the path, a pretty girl in a hurry, her smooth hair swinging, shining - just such a young woman as Nancy might have been” (Capote 219). This statement sets a nice tone for the end of the book, as the audience can infer that people will never forget the Clutters, but they will move on in life and cherish the best memories. 

The Sections of "In Cold Blood" Response

In the novel In Cold Blood, Truman Capote breaks up the murder case of the Clutter into 4 distinct sections. In the first section, Capote introduces the Clutter family and the two murderers- Dick and Perry. The first section of the book serves as an introduction- it gives readers an understanding of who the characters are in the book, and an idea of what will happen in the future. Capote drops subtle hits in the first section that something severe will happen to the Clutter family. For instance, in a passage about Mr. Clutter, Capote states: "Then, touching the brim of his cap, he headed for home and the day's work, unaware that it would be his last" (Capote 6). This hint prepares readers for what is to come in the next section, as Mr. Clutter will die. 

In section 2 of In Cold Blood, the murder actually happens. Capote explains the events of the murder, from a bystander's point of view. The readers know that Dick and Perry committed the murder, but they do not know why or how. The audience only knows what happened when the townspeople of Holocomb found the bodies. Section 2 then sets the way for the next section, in which the audience fully understands what happened the night of the murder. 

In section 3, we actually learn from Floyd Wells (a criminal who used to share the same cell as Dick) what Dick's incentives were for the murder. From there, the police and investigators are able to find Perry and Dick, and gather evidence to accuse them of the murder. This section then paves the way for the fourth section, in which the audience learns about the court trials surrounding this case. 

In Cold Blood: Fictional or Nonfictional?

In Truman Capote's novel "In Cold Blood", he tells the story of the Clutter family murders that occurred in 1959. In this story, Capote reveals what happened in the murder and the events/ investigation surrounding the murder. However, recently more information surrounding the Clutter murders has been released from Harold Nye's notebooks. Harold Nye was a detective who was part of the Clutter cases, however his information contradicts some of the aspects of Capote's story. Apparently Capote included number inaccuracies and at least one fabricated story in his novel, as well as serious implications. Also, Capote favors Dewey in the story in order gain more information about the story- and does not include Dewey's failure to follow up on the investigation at one point.

Personally, I do not think that this book should be considered a non-fiction piece. I think that this is a good book to read because it gives a reader an idea of what actually happened during the Clutter murders. However, readers should not refer to this book as a reliable account of the story. This is due to the fact that Capote over-embellished certain details in the story in order to make it more appealing to readers. If one were interested in finding out the true events and investigations surrounding the murder, it would be best if they read the filed records associated with the case.

Although Capote's piece is not necessarily a non-fictional piece, I think that such a thing as a "non-fiction" novel can exist. I believe that one can find actual facts and pieces of evidence by reading first-hand accounts/ personal records that are meant to simply record events and not appeal to readers.

In Cold Blood Blog Post #3

Capote finally reveals the murder details in his third section. What is your reaction to the actual confession? 

April 20, 2015

In the third section of In Cold Blood, Capote finally reveals the murder details surrounding the Clutter case. Prior to this section, Perry hinted that they must have been crazy for killing the Clutter family. Perry did not think that anyone in their right minds would be able to murder an entire family and get away with it. The audience also learns that one of the reasons that Perry joined Dick was so that Perry could visit a friend (Willie Jay) in Kansas City. However even though Perry does not end up meeting his friend in Kansas City, he still participates in the murder. Perry's actions indicate that he had other reasons for joining Dick in the murder- Perry was not only joining Dick so that he could see one of his friends. Although it is clear that both Perry and Dick had reasons for murdering the Clutters, their incentives are not revealed until the third section. 

In the third section of In Cold Blood, the audience is introduced to a character named Floyd Wells. Floyd seems to be the only one who actually has knowledge of who murdered the Clutter family and why. It is clear that Floyd is a reliable source because Perry briefly mentions Floyd's name before the audience is even introduced to him. In section two of In Cold Blood, Perry questions whether or not he and Dick will be able to get away with their crimes. Although Dick is insistent that no one will find them or  suspect them as murderers, Perry raises a question that challenges Dick's confidence and self-assurance: "'Floyd- is that the name?' A little below the belt, but Dick deserved it, his confidence was like a kite that needed reeling in" (Capote 57). Based off of this reference to Floyd, the audience can assume that Floyd knew some information about the murder of the Clutters. Therefore, it is not surprising when Capote introduces Floyd in the third section of the book as an inhabitant of Kansas State Penitentiary. Floyd reveals Dick's incentives for murdering the Clutters and the audience gets a glimpse of how Dick was able to commit the murder. 

According to Floyd, Dick intended to rob Mr. Clutter and his family when he heard that the Clutters were wealthy. Floyd was the one who informed Dick about the Clutter family, however he did not expect Dick to murder the family. Floyd informs the investigators: “Next thing I knew, Dick was talking about killing Mr. Clutter. Said him and Perry was gonna go out there and rob the place, and they was gonna kill all witnesses - the Clutters, and anybody else that happened to be around. He described to me a dozen times how he was gonna do it, how him and Perry was gonna tie them people up and gun them down. I told him, 'Dick, you'll never get by with it.' But I can't honestly say I tried to persuade him different. Because I never for a minute believed he meant to carry it out” (Capote 99). Although Floyd was responsible for informing Dick about the wealth of the Clutter family and their estate, he did not suspect Dick to carry out his plans. Although Floyd claims that Dick planned to rob the Clutters, it is interesting how the only thing that Dick and Perry actually took was a radio. This was partially due to the fact that the Clutter family kept their fortune secured, and it was not easily accessible. However, even though Dick does not rob the Clutter family, he still murders them. 

As readers learn more about Dick and Perry in the third section, it is clear that Dick had psychological issues that contributed to the murder. It seems that Dick killed the murderers  because he was envious of their wealth, as he did not leave with anything. It is apparent that Dick is envious of people who have a lot of wealth and fortune. For instance, at one point in the story Dick is envious of a man he sees at a hotel, who is living the dream life: "A blonde who resembled Marilyn Monroe was kneading him with suntan oil, and his lazy, beringed hand reached for a tumbler of iced orange juice. All that belonged to him, Dick, but he would never have it. Why should that sonofabitch have everything, while he had nothing? Why should that "big-shot bastard" have all the luck? With a knife in his hand, he, Dick, had power" (Capote 126). Clearly Dick had more of an incentive to kill the Clutters than to rob them- he probably felt envious of them and felt that they deserved to die. 

It was interesting to read about the confessions of Dick and Perry. Even though the investigators had information about both Dick and Perry, Dick continued to lie profusely about what happened. However, I was impressed by the fact that the officers were able to use Dick's testimony against him. For instance when Dick said that he went to the Post Office at Ford Scott on a Saturday and was looking for Perry's sister, the investigators were able to refute his statements. Apparently the post office wasn't even opened on Saturdays, and Perry's sister never lived in Ford Scott. Overall I was impressed with the tactics of the officers, and could tell that they would be able to efficiently charge the criminals with murder. 

In Cold Blood Blog Post #2

April 14, 2015

Although Truman Capote has classified his novel In Cold Blood as a “nonfiction novel”, there are several fictional aspects in this book. This novel revives the true story in which a murder took place in Holcomb, Kansas; Capote also elaborates on the details in the story in order to appeal to the audience. Throughout the novel, Capote uses his narrator to provide the audience with detailed information about each of the characters involved in the murder case. By creating a narrator, Capote seems to connect more with the audience- Capote is not simply reporting on the events of the murder and stating his opinions, like journalists traditionally do. Rather, Capote uses a fictional tone, descriptive details and mythical elements throughout his story in order to captivate the audience’s attention and effectively revive the events surrounding the murder. 

By creating a narrator in his story, Capote effectively sets a fictional tone in his story and connects with his audience. Using a narrator ultimately allows Capote to set himself apart from the plot line, and create a story-like atmosphere. For instance, Capote sets this tone in the beginning of the book by fully setting the scene and making it appear as if it is a ghost town. When describing the town of Holcomb, Capote states: “After rain, or when snowfalls thaw, the streets, unnamed, unshaded, unpaved turn from the thickest dust into the direst mud. At one end of the town stands a stark old stucco structure, the roof of which supports an electric sign- dance- but the dancing has ceased and the advertisement has been dark for several years” (Capote 2). By describing the different aspects of the town- the unpaved streets, abandoned buildings, etc.- Capote is able to effectively portray Holcomb as an isolated and abandoned town. This ultimately has the effect of separating Capote’s techniques from journalist techniques. Although journalists might set the scene for their audiences in the beginning of their pieces, they do not generally go into as much depth as Capote does. Capote’s emphasis on descriptive details clearly separates his techniques from those of journalists. 

Capote also uses mythical elements throughout his story in order to captivate his audience’s attention. In the story, the narrator claims that one of the murderers plans to travel to Mexico after the killing. In Mexico, Perry, one of the murderers, hopes to find treasure and live luxuriously: ”He [Perry] did know the ins and outs of hunting gold, having been taught them by his father, who was a professional prospector. So why shouldn't they, the two of them, buy a pair of pack horses and try their luck in the Sierra Madre? (Capote 57). Readers can understand that Perry will not actually find gold in Mexico, as it is a myth that there are abundant amounts of gold available to explorers. As it was the 1950s when this story takes place, it is likely that most people, especially grown adults,  knew that gold was not available in Mexico. However, it seems that Capote mentioned that Perry hoped to find treasure in order to make the story seem more interesting to his readers. He continues to emphasize on this idea when later in the book, Perry decides to stay with Dick rather than leave him so that they might find treasure together: “Moreover, if he broke with Dick, it meant the end of plans still attractive to Perry, and still, despite recent reverses, deemed possible by both - a skin-diving, treasure-hunting life lived together among islands or along coasts south of the border” (Capote 57). As a bystander of the events in the real murder case, it is impossible for Capote to actually know the true desires of the murders. However continuing to elaborate on the fact that Perry wishes to find treasure makes the story seem more interesting to readers. 

Overall, Truman Capote effectively captivates the attention of his readers by using descriptive details and fictional elements throughout his story. He makes the story seem more relatable to readers by providing them with the different accounts of people in the story, and fully describing different elements of the story- such as the setting. This ultimately captivates readers, and enjoy the different aspects of the story- as it refrains from simply reporting on the event, like journalists typically do. 

Should we abolish pennies?

As the economy has grown over the years and prices have risen, the value of pennies has decreased significantly. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, pennies were an essential component to the economy. They held more value, and people frequently used pennies as items did not cost as much. However, over the years, pennies have lost their value as inflation has occurred and the economy has soared.  Pennies are generally discarded on sidewalks, and left untouched by passing people. In addition to this, few people use pennies when making purchases. Instead they'll pay with checks and credit cards, because it is quicker and more efficient. If the government were to abolish pennies, it would probably even benefit the economy because the government would save money by not producing them.

In Cold Blood Blog Post, April 9th

As you are reading you already know the outcome of the novel. How does Capote still build suspense for his reader?

In the story In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, the audience is already aware that a murder will occur. It is likely that a reader is already aware that a murder will take place, as this story is based off of a nonfictional murder that actually occurred in Holcomb, Kansas. Even if a reader did not have this prior knowledge, he/ she would probably assume that a murder will take place in the book as its title is very suggestive. However, although many readers already anticipate a murder in this story, Capote does an excellent job with building suspense for his readers. He is able to effectively build suspense through the strong usage of imagery and juxtaposition in the opening passages, as well as an anticipating tone throughout the book.

Capote’s usage of imagery throughout his story helps captivate his audience, and build the suspense. By providing detailed information about the murder scene and the characters involved in it, Capote is able to hint at the different aspects that help contribute to the eventual tragedy. For instance, in the beginning of the book Capote portrays Holcomb- the location of the murder- as isolated and abandoned. Capote begins his book by stating: “The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call ‘out there’.” Just by reading this, the audience already views Kansas as a sort of ghost town- abandoned and isolated, a good setting for a crime scene. Capote continues to build the suspense as he makes Holcomb’s condition seem even worse: “ “At one end of the town stands a stark old stucco structure, the roof of which supports an electric sign- dance- but the dancing has ceased and the advertisement has been dark for several years.” By using adjectives such as “stark”, “old”, and “dark” to describe the building, Capote does a thorough job in depicting a run down building. Also by stating that the dancing has ceased, a reader immediately comes to the conclusion that this town no longer thrives like it used to. 

The suspense surrounding the crime scene builds as Capote contrasts the original depiction of Holcomb, as an abandoned an isolated town, with a different depiction of Holcomb. He claims that although Holcomb is a small town and is isolated, it is still prosperous. Apparently there are good educational programs in Holcomb and many opportunities for farmers to thrive. According to Capote: “The farm ranchers in Finney county, of which Holocomb is a part, have done well: money has been made not from farming alone but also from the exploitation of plentiful natural-gas resources, and its acquisition is reflected in the new school, the comfortable interiors of the farmhouses, the steep and swollen grain elevators.” Through this statement, readers get an entirely different view of the Holocomb that was described in the opening paragraphs of the book. By describing the grain elevators as “steep and swollen” and the natural resources as “plentiful”, Capote depicts Holcomb as a prosperous town. This tends to build suspense, as it strikes the reader’s curiosity and desire to learn why the author depicts the scene in both ways. 

As the book continues, it becomes apparent what Capote’s intentions are for using juxtapositional techniques. Capote ultimately stages Holcomb as a small, yet prosperous town, that is relatively safe. A place where no one would suspect a crime scene to take place, as it has been abandoned by most people, and left to the farmers and their families- for the most part. Therefore, it is suspenseful when Capote suggests that a murder is about to take place. Capote builds the suspense, as he takes on an anticipating tone. For instance, in the beginning of the book Capote reveals:  “At the time not a soul in sleeping Holcomb heard them- four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives.” After reading this, the audience generally wishes to learn more about this event, however Capote keeps the audience in suspense as he launches into the backgrounds of each of the characters involved in the story. But after introducing Mr. Clutter, Capote states: “Then, touching the brim of his cap, he headed for home and the day's work, unaware that it would be his last”. This builds the audience’s anticipation as they become more interested in what is able to take place. Ultimately, Capote is able to grab the audience’s interest by revealing information and building up to the climax of the story. 

Analyzing Visuals

The first thing that I notice when I look at this picture, is the expression on the young girl's face. By examining the girl's face, it is apparent that something is not right with her. She has a bewildered look on her face, and it seems like she has been caught for doing something wrong- and yet she is not disturbed by the fact that she might be in trouble. Instead it looks like she has just come to some type of realization, and is offended that someone would try to accuse her of doing something wrong (perhaps scribbling out bad names about her on the chalk board). Just by looking at the entire picture, it is clear that this little girl is in a school setting. It appears that she is wearing some type of school uniform, and she is standing at a black board. However, it looks like a group of students tried to offend her or bully her because she is scribbling out a bunch of words on the chalk board. It is clear that she has been picked on by several people, as there are different words all over the board in different handwriting. 

Just by looking at this image, I believe that this child is Jewish. She is white- so clearly students would not be discriminating her based off of race. In addition to this, she has a darker hair color and not the ideal fair skin and blue eyes that Aryans have. The words on the chalkboard seem to be written in a different language- so it is likely that this is occurring in a foreign country. Also the photograph is black and white- suggesting that this could have been during the Holocaust.