In Cold Blood

Truman Capote’s book “In Cold Blood” was filled with many complex characters who ended up meeting a tragic end. While reading this novel I experienced lots of characters and their experiences throughout the story, different emotions in different sections of the book, and ideas and opinions throughout the book. The author who wrote “In Cold Blood” is Truman Capote. “In Cold Blood” is a non-fictional novel of a murder of a family by two main characters, Perry Smith and Richard Hickcock. Alvin Dewey was in charge of the investigation of the murder and he was part of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The members of the family are Herb Clutter, the father, Bonnie Clutter, the mother who had mental problems, Nancy Clutter, the daughter, and Kenyon Clutter, the son. In my opinion, the protagonist of the story is Alvin Dewey. His role in finding who killed the family and bringing the murderers to justice made me believe he is the protagonist of the story. The two antagonists, Perry Smith and Richard Hickcock, were running away from Dewey. In the opening chapters of this book I felt kind of disturbed. I felt disturbed not only because of the people who considered the murder but also because the family was such a perfect family who didn’t get into much trouble. The murderers’ minds were sick and messed up. Truman Capote quoted, “It is no shame to have a dirty face-the shame comes when you keep it dirty.” This quote shows that Smith and Hickcock believed that what they did to the family was nothing to be ashamed of. Around the middle of the novel, the fugitives were heading back to Kansas where they killed the family. This action caused Hickcock and Smith to get caught and sent to jail. Hickcock and Smith returned to the state that they were wanted in thinking that they would be safe. From a fugitive’s perspective, one should never go back to the place where he or she is wanted. At the end of the book I felt satisfied because Dick and Perry got what they deserved.