Family in "In Cold Blood"
Marina Dart
10/03/2012
Period 4 HL English
Family in In Cold Blood: IOP Essay
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is a nonfiction novel that documents the murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. It then follows the investigation of the crime as well as the murderers as they attempt to flee the country, are caught, and eventually as they are executed for their crimes. In the book, Capote purposely twists and destroys the idea of family by exaggerating all negative aspects of every healthy family that is part of the story, as well as glorifying and creating sympathy for Perry, the one character who’s family was abnormal and unsupportive. He does this out of personal bias due to the fact that he himself was raised in a broken family.
The first family that we are introduced to in In Cold Blood is the Clutters. They are a relatively normal, happy family. The hardworking father, Herb Clutter, is a very successful farmer and a very widely known citizen of Holcomb. Of his four children, two are living away from home-one studying to be a nurse and one engaged to a biology student of whom Mr. Clutter approves. His third daughter Nancy, is very popular and well behaved. She is described as “the town darling” and helps out the people of Holcomb whenever she can, such as when she teaches a young girl from town, Jolene, how to make pie. The final child, and the only boy, Kenyon, is an awkward but charming 15-year old who loves woodwork and is quite skilled at playing the trumpet. However, like all families, the Clutters are not prefect. The family’s main worry and hardship, Mr. Clutter’s “one serious cause for disquiet”, is Mrs. Clutter. Bonnie suffers from some kind of serious depressive disorder, and spends most of her time either seeking treatment at a faraway hospital or in her bedroom. Naturally, this is painful for her family, who cope with it in different ways-Kenyon retreats to the basement alone, Nancy distances herself from her mother and confides in her best
10/03/2012
Period 4 HL English
Family in In Cold Blood: IOP Essay
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is a nonfiction novel that documents the murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. It then follows the investigation of the crime as well as the murderers as they attempt to flee the country, are caught, and eventually as they are executed for their crimes. In the book, Capote purposely twists and destroys the idea of family by exaggerating all negative aspects of every healthy family that is part of the story, as well as glorifying and creating sympathy for Perry, the one character who’s family was abnormal and unsupportive. He does this out of personal bias due to the fact that he himself was raised in a broken family.
The first family that we are introduced to in In Cold Blood is the Clutters. They are a relatively normal, happy family. The hardworking father, Herb Clutter, is a very successful farmer and a very widely known citizen of Holcomb. Of his four children, two are living away from home-one studying to be a nurse and one engaged to a biology student of whom Mr. Clutter approves. His third daughter Nancy, is very popular and well behaved. She is described as “the town darling” and helps out the people of Holcomb whenever she can, such as when she teaches a young girl from town, Jolene, how to make pie. The final child, and the only boy, Kenyon, is an awkward but charming 15-year old who loves woodwork and is quite skilled at playing the trumpet. However, like all families, the Clutters are not prefect. The family’s main worry and hardship, Mr. Clutter’s “one serious cause for disquiet”, is Mrs. Clutter. Bonnie suffers from some kind of serious depressive disorder, and spends most of her time either seeking treatment at a faraway hospital or in her bedroom. Naturally, this is painful for her family, who cope with it in different ways-Kenyon retreats to the basement alone, Nancy distances herself from her mother and confides in her best