Analyzing Truman Capote's Novel 'In Cold Blood'
Anastasia Montgomery
Mr. Wells
3rd Hour
05/08/14
English Final
Truman Capote demonstrated in his novel “In Cold Blood” there was a pattern of planning and emotions to commit their crimes. The book took six years to write, and took place when the author seen a huge article in the New York Times about an unsolved multiple murder of a wheat farmer and his family in Holcomb, Kansas. Truman went straight to Holcomb to the scene of the crime. It was six years later that the killers were executed by being hung on the very same day, that Truman Capote finished his nonfiction novel “In Cold Blood”. The novel sold out instantly and became one of the most talked about books of its time. An instant classic, In Cold Blood brought Capote millions of dollars and fame unparalleled by nearly by nearly any other literary author …show more content…
since. Capote never made series of any of his books. But he was famous for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Answered Prayers.
When looking at the back of a novel that depicts a murderer case you usually see the basic plot of the novel being that of finding the murderer’s identity. In Cold Blood on the other hand is that of finding the murderer’s motive. Capote tells you at the beginning of the book who the killers are then spend the rest of the book trying to explain why Dick and Perry committed the murders. The narrative style removes the author from the story and instead focusing completely on each character, giving the story of the family and the story of the killers with a real, chilling perspective.
Close Reading of In Cold Blood
Truman Capote demonstrated in his novel “In Cold Blood” there was a pattern of planning and emotions to commit their crimes. The book took six years to write, and took place when the author seen a huge article in the New York Times about an unsolved multiple murder of a farmer and his family in Holcomb, Kansas. Truman went straight to Holcomb to the scene of the crime. It was six years later that the killers were executed by being hung on the very same day, that Truman Capote finished his nonfiction novel In Cold Blood. The novel sold out instantly and became one of the most talked about books of its time. An instant classic, In Cold Blood brought Capote millions of dollars and fame unparalleled by nearly by nearly any other literary author since. Capote never made series of any of his books. But he was famous for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Answered Prayers.
When looking at the back of a novel that depicts a murderer case you usually see the basic plot of the novel being that of finding the murderer’s identity.
In Cold Blood on the other hand is that of finding the murderer’s motive. Capote tells you at the beginning of the book who the killers are then spend the rest of the book trying to explain why Dick and Perry committed the murders. The narrative style removes the author from the story and instead focusing completely on each character, giving the story of the family and the story of the killers with a real, chilling perspective.
The title suggest that it’s about a murder committed in an unemotional manner without feeling or passion. Dick and Perry did not care about who they killed they were only interested in the money the former employee told them about. The mood of the title suggests the killer did not care that he was killing someone’s family he only cared that they were standing between him and something that he wanted. In Cold Blood, he organizes it in a way that you’re familiar with the murderer’s names and lives, but you are searching for the deeper meaning of the whole
situation.
The first words I notice in the book was in cold blood because usually in cold blood means like an animals that are cold blooded are venomous people. Capote wrote in a journalistic style so he used words that you would find in newspapers and magazine articles. He used in cold blood because it means to do something without feeling an cold blooded animals usually animals that have evil tendencies.
Capote stresses the fact that Perry carries his memorabilia around everywhere and even has it waiting in the places he might visit again. Perry carries these old books, journal, letters, and other valuables across the country with him as he is trying to avoid being caught. He had a bad childhood so carrying around all this stuff is a way that he is trying to avoid his past because he doesn’t want to go home to get his stuff. The weather is also symbolic. Every major event in the book starts out and ends with some kind of weather event. The weather plays the role of a “real life” symbol, something that happens normally. The weather in the book seems to appear shiny and bright and shining throughout the window the day the Clutters are found murdered in their Holcomb home. The day that the trial happens the storm has ended and the sun is coming out which symbolizes how the end of the chase for the killers has brought closure for the family.
Mr. Wells
3rd Hour
05/08/14
English Final
Truman Capote demonstrated in his novel “In Cold Blood” there was a pattern of planning and emotions to commit their crimes. The book took six years to write, and took place when the author seen a huge article in the New York Times about an unsolved multiple murder of a wheat farmer and his family in Holcomb, Kansas. Truman went straight to Holcomb to the scene of the crime. It was six years later that the killers were executed by being hung on the very same day, that Truman Capote finished his nonfiction novel “In Cold Blood”. The novel sold out instantly and became one of the most talked about books of its time. An instant classic, In Cold Blood brought Capote millions of dollars and fame unparalleled by nearly by nearly any other literary author …show more content…
since. Capote never made series of any of his books. But he was famous for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Answered Prayers.
When looking at the back of a novel that depicts a murderer case you usually see the basic plot of the novel being that of finding the murderer’s identity. In Cold Blood on the other hand is that of finding the murderer’s motive. Capote tells you at the beginning of the book who the killers are then spend the rest of the book trying to explain why Dick and Perry committed the murders. The narrative style removes the author from the story and instead focusing completely on each character, giving the story of the family and the story of the killers with a real, chilling perspective.
Close Reading of In Cold Blood
Truman Capote demonstrated in his novel “In Cold Blood” there was a pattern of planning and emotions to commit their crimes. The book took six years to write, and took place when the author seen a huge article in the New York Times about an unsolved multiple murder of a farmer and his family in Holcomb, Kansas. Truman went straight to Holcomb to the scene of the crime. It was six years later that the killers were executed by being hung on the very same day, that Truman Capote finished his nonfiction novel In Cold Blood. The novel sold out instantly and became one of the most talked about books of its time. An instant classic, In Cold Blood brought Capote millions of dollars and fame unparalleled by nearly by nearly any other literary author since. Capote never made series of any of his books. But he was famous for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Answered Prayers.
When looking at the back of a novel that depicts a murderer case you usually see the basic plot of the novel being that of finding the murderer’s identity.
In Cold Blood on the other hand is that of finding the murderer’s motive. Capote tells you at the beginning of the book who the killers are then spend the rest of the book trying to explain why Dick and Perry committed the murders. The narrative style removes the author from the story and instead focusing completely on each character, giving the story of the family and the story of the killers with a real, chilling perspective.
The title suggest that it’s about a murder committed in an unemotional manner without feeling or passion. Dick and Perry did not care about who they killed they were only interested in the money the former employee told them about. The mood of the title suggests the killer did not care that he was killing someone’s family he only cared that they were standing between him and something that he wanted. In Cold Blood, he organizes it in a way that you’re familiar with the murderer’s names and lives, but you are searching for the deeper meaning of the whole
situation.
The first words I notice in the book was in cold blood because usually in cold blood means like an animals that are cold blooded are venomous people. Capote wrote in a journalistic style so he used words that you would find in newspapers and magazine articles. He used in cold blood because it means to do something without feeling an cold blooded animals usually animals that have evil tendencies.
Capote stresses the fact that Perry carries his memorabilia around everywhere and even has it waiting in the places he might visit again. Perry carries these old books, journal, letters, and other valuables across the country with him as he is trying to avoid being caught. He had a bad childhood so carrying around all this stuff is a way that he is trying to avoid his past because he doesn’t want to go home to get his stuff. The weather is also symbolic. Every major event in the book starts out and ends with some kind of weather event. The weather plays the role of a “real life” symbol, something that happens normally. The weather in the book seems to appear shiny and bright and shining throughout the window the day the Clutters are found murdered in their Holcomb home. The day that the trial happens the storm has ended and the sun is coming out which symbolizes how the end of the chase for the killers has brought closure for the family.