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March 3, 2010 at 3:32 am
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s 1st Article for “In Cold Blood” – 6th period
“How does Capote build suspense despite the fact that readers know the ultimate outcome from the beginning of In Cold Blood?”
There are multiple ways that Capote builds suspense throughout the novel of “In Cold Blood”, thereby keeping his readers hooked and interested. However I think the most useful and compelling element that Capote uses would be the steady rhythm of foreshadowing… the small, seemingly harmless remarks that Capote so slyly releases, causing you to almost miss the full and actual meaning. They come as a warning and an outline of the looming events that are inevitable, preparing you in a cold-hearted manner for the central topic of the novel.
The stylistic element of foreshadowing gives Capote’s novel a chilling edge even prior to the main tragedy. “Until one morning in mid-November of 1959, few Americans – in fact, few Kansans – had ever heard of Holcomb” (5). From the first few flips of the page, although you don’t know exactly what will happen, the reader is already clued in that an enormous change is about to occur in the town of Holcomb , making it unforgettable. He continues throughout the first part of the book, with little comments like “… unaware that it would be his last” (13). This, referring to Mr. Clutter, was in reference to the beautiful morning of November 14, 1959, when Mr. Clutter runs across some pheasant hunters on his land as he is out talking a stroll. After bidding them a good day, and touching the brim of his hat in a pleasant gesture, Capote strikes the reader with this solemn omen. Another example would be the Bible verse that is embroidered onto Bonnie’s bookmark. Of every verse in the Bible, her bookmark reads, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (30). Referring to the end of your life and “the time” to die, this serious quote foreshadows horrible events. Perhaps the most chilling of lines that portray the gruesome events that will take place just hours later, is a seemingly complimentary departing word from Mrs. Ashida to Mr. Clutter. After discussing the possibility of her giving a speech at an upcoming 4-H dinner, Mrs. Ashida kindly refuses, asking Mr. Clutter to speak in her place. She gives her reason in these haunting words, “I can’t imagine you afraid. No matter what happened, you’d talk your way out of it” (36). But even Mr. Clutter couldn’t talk his way out of his family’s murders and his own slit throat. And just before the horrors began on the night of the Clutter family murder, while Nancy was innocently getting ready for bed and going through her nightly routine, Capote drops a sickening bomb. “… she set out the clothes she intended to wear to church the next morning: nylons, black pumps, a red velveteen dress- her prettiest, which she herself had made. It was the dress in which she was to be buried” (56). These sudden glimpses of the tragic occurrence in Holcomb shock the reader to the core… and cause them to be unable to put Capote’s literature down until the very last page.
March 3, 2010 at 1:27 pm
MTaylor
Excellent! Exactly what I was looking for!!
March 4, 2010 at 2:19 am
Megan Spears
Referring to Capote’s ‘steady rhythm of foreshadowing’ stated by Logan, he continuously foreshadows throughout the entire novel, keeping you in the edge of your seat. Adding to the examples she provided, another very suspenseful and important foreshadow is Nancy Ewalt’s encounter on her Sunday morning routine, for on this exact morning of November 15, 1959, “by nine, the sun had risen, delivering another day of pheasant-season”(59). The workers of the farm, doing their everyday maintenance work and going home soon after, is a part of Capote’s foreshadowing as he quotes “they noticed nothing amiss”(59). However, Nancy, a friend of Nancy Clutter, would attend church with the Clutter’s every Sunday, as it saved her father, a non churchgoer, “two back and forth trips to town”(58). As the reader is already extremely suspicious about what is to happen next, the expected foreshadowing comes when Nancy Ewalt’s dad takes her to the Clutter’s home for the ‘normal’, but comes across the ‘impossible’. Could the Clutter’s STILL be sleeping? Capote’s stylistic writing goes about by anticipating the reader to read more, as his concrete details make a vivid image in the reader’s mind, waiting for the climax of the story. When Nancy and her dad are not able to get the attention of the Clutter’s, after continuously knocking on different locations of the home, they keep an optimistic thought, in hopes that by driving into town to another friend of Nancy’s, they might find the Clutter’s had simply forgotten to imply they would not be attending church that Sunday due to other nonchalant reasons. This thought makes a one eighty turn around as the exchanging of words at Susan Kidwell’s home is that of confusion, for she too had no idea what is wrong. As the girls return to the Clutter’s property, the discovery of the Clutter’s, and the horrific tragedy that was placed upon the four members of the ‘well-known and loved’ family in the town of Holcomb, is the turning point of the novel. The start of all the foreshadowing of the latter days, and the convictions of Dick and Perry would soon follow.
March 9, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Kelsey Alyea
Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
“The Village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call “out there” (3). From the very first sentence of the novel, Truman Capote recognizes the city of Holcomb to be very different from your average city. Far deep into the grasps of the countryside, Holcomb is a small “village” that appears to be run-down according to the authors descriptions of “aimless congregation… haphazard hamlet… unnamed, unshaded, unpaved” (3). But it becomes an ordinary town in the fact that they have nothing truly special about them. “…drama, in the shape of exceptional happenings, had never stopped there” (5). It was so ordinary it became wallpaper; it faded into the background of everything else around it. According to Capote they were, “…quite content to exist inside ordinary life” (5).
With Capote’s flawless description of Holcomb, it gives the reader a sense of actually being there. Throughout the novel it is a series of jumping from one characters point-of-view to the next. Recieving a full analysis of the city makes the setting become more real and easier to understand when going from someone who is at a house to someone who is “downtown” to say. While Holcomb isn’t very large compared to neigboring cities such as Garden City, it has many people who care about each other. The City of Holcomb may be small and been through tough years, but Capotes description of the village makes everything become real so that the reader is able to comprehend the happenings easier. Little do the people know that their world is going to be turned around all because of two people.
March 10, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Ashley Alvarez
Ashley Alvarez-6th period
Comment # 1
I completely agree with your article! I do believe his description of the town really makes you feel as if you are part of the story. He makes it so much easier to understand and gives you a lot to help you imagine what a “normal” day would be like in Holcomb before the tragedy.
March 17, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Brooklynn Tindall
Comment # 3
I agree with Kelseys description and perception that Kelsey has of the small town of Holcomb kansas. It is an ” out there” town that consists of not that many citizens. However i feel that there is more to the town than the novel percieves. Yes the town may be pretty much wiped of the map, and not many Americans know where it is. Yet the people that live there are just like you and me. They have families and jobs, and are just trying to survive in this world all the same. I believe the author spends so much time describing the town so he can make you think that people’ lives there are ordinary and plain. However once the Clutters are murdered it makes you think Why Them? Or What could they have done to deserve this? Maybe the Clutters themselves had something to hide.
March 9, 2010 at 3:20 pm
lazylady34
Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
How does the description of the jail at the beginning of Part IV contribute to the development of the novel?
In Cold Blood is the story of a horrific murder, an unordinary act of hate, that has been committed in a nothing but ordinary town. Holcomb, Kansas is your everyday tiny community nestled in the empty farmlands of Kansas. It’s a quite town where nothing too out of the ordinary happens and everyone knows everyone. Holcomb was the picture of the American town in the 1950s, as were many of the surrounding towns in the county. Yet, Holcomb is a town containing more secrets than you would expect. Although the town is the “perfect, quite little city” on the outside, on the inside everyone as their own something to hide.
The reason for Capote’s vast description of this town is to prove to the reader that this indescribable crime happened in the most common everyday town where everyone thought you were safe to leave your doors unlocked. Crime and murder can happen anywhere, even in the most unsuspecting places. Capote wants the reader to feel the real surprise that the people of this town felt when they discovered that members of their tiny little community had been brutally killed.
March 18, 2010 at 3:07 am
Amanda Piland
I agree with lazylady34, in the sense that anything can happen. No matter how “ordinary” the town of Holcomb, Kansas appears, there are always secrets. The fact that such a brutal murder could happen in what is considered a small, quiet farm town leads us to believe that it could happen anywhere. Not only do harsh crimes, such as murder occur in large cities, but also in in communities that seem to be the “picture perfect” view of the American lifestyle.
March 9, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Brooklynn Tindall
What is the theme of the novel?
Brooklynn Tindall
In Capote’s novel In Cold Blood Capote starts out by describing the small town of Holcomb as “Out there”(3). He speaks of a well respected family in the society who we all know as The Clutters. The family consisted of Mr. Clutter “ the communitys most widely known citizen”(6), Mrs. Clutter who suffered “little spells”(7), Nancy “the town darling”(7), kenyon the youngest boy who” at fifeteen was already taller thanMr. Clutter”(7), and two other sister’s by the name of Beverly and Eveanna. The description of the family adds on to the theme of the novel, because eevry dteail Capote uses to describe this “all-american” family makes you have sympathy for them. On page 14 we are introduced to two chararcters by the name of Dick and Perry. These two men were jailmates during their time at the state prison. Perry is just coming alond for the ride to help Dick get his “score”(14). These two crooks are what make the theme as twisted and shocking as it is. When Nancy Ewalt approaches the Cluuter’s house before church on a Sunday morning she finds that nobody is answering her calls. So Nancy along with Susan entered the Cluuter house and noticed that the Clutters”hadn’t eaten breakfest,there was no dishes, and nothing on the stove”(61). Then Susan and Nancy crept into Nancy’s room because her door was open. Nancy said all she rememberd is “the teddy bear staring at me”(60). They ran down stares told Mr. Ewalt and then called the sheriff. Overall the theme in this novel is very obvoius yet twisted. Who would want to kill the All American family. The Clutters never harmed anyone, or did they? The theme is this couold happen to anyone, even you or me.
March 9, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Shawna Jones
1st comment
7th period
I agree with Brooklynn in the fact that one of the themes in the novel is that in can happen to anyone. If the All American Clutter family can be savagely murdered, then why can’t it happen to you, or me, or a neighbor? But there is also another very evident theme in the novel, and that is Capote’s use of imagery. Throughout the entire novel imagery is used to describe almost everything, from the shotgun to the killers tattoos. Capote uses imagery in a very effective way that, so that every word you ready, you can vividly picture what is happening in the Clutter’s lives and in Dick and Perry’s as well.
March 9, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Becky Douin
I do agree with Brooklyn in that one theme present in the beginning of the novel is that no matter who you, or what youve made for yourself, anything could happen to you. No matter when or where. However, I also feel that a theme present in the novel at the beginning of the book is that “the all american family” that Brooklyn points out, The Clutters, reveal that image of themselves. But with every typical, well respected, and loved family in each town, there is always a problem that is shed from the public eye. Aka Mrs Clutters condition. But both themes are well represented in the beginning of the novel.
March 9, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Briana Lech
Briana Lech
6th period-1st Comment
I also have to agree with Brooklynn, the theme of In Cold Blood is immediately presented in the novel. Capote continuously mentions how Holcomb is an ordinary town, doesn’t receive much publicity, and how everyone was friends with everybody. The townspeople portrayed the Clutter family as the typical “All American Family”. “His name was everywhere respectfully recognized among Midwestern agriculturalists…”(6); Capote emphasizes how perfect they appeared, but did they have a skeleton in their closet? Nevertheless, it makes the reader think “if it happened to the Cutters it could happen to anyone”, and that’s what he wanted us to think. This ultimately became the theme of the novel-“The All American Family”, and it also begs the question- were the Clutters hiding something?
March 11, 2010 at 4:45 am
lazylady34
i agree with Brooklyn that the town is made out to be a small little community where nothing out of the ordinary would happen. and it is weird how such a gruesome thing happened of out nowhere. all towns have their “drama” no matter how big or small, i guess that town just had it a little worse
March 9, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Casey Martin
6th period – Article 1 – “Why do you think he does this and what do these detailed portraits add to the book? Which of the secondary characters do you find most memorable and why?”
I consider Willie-Jay to be the most memorable minor character in In Cold Blood. Although he is not an important character in the book he was described so thoroughly in one chapter. Perry held him to such high esteem, because Willie-Jay was his “real and only friend” (42), that it made him seem to be more significant than he really is. This may be because with all the information written about Willie-Jay it reveals information about Perry himself.
Willie-Jay’s voice was the “glory of the prison’s choir”. He sang religious songs with such spirit that Perry was moved. It “made him wonder a little at the justice of his contempt”. Willie-Jay was so significant to Perry he caused Perry to think about his wrong doings. This, perhaps, shows how Willie-Jay began to change Perry for the better during his time in prison. Following that it stated that Willie-Jay’s singing also sent Perry into a religious curiosity. This was how Perry became so close to Willie-Jay, despite Perry’s actual disinterest in religion by the time Willie-Jay had real hope to “bring this boy to God” (42).
Perry’s friendship with Willie-Jay shows that no one else really cared about Perry before and he was desperate to keep anyone who did. This is first implied when it says “for he was still unconvinced of God as ever. Yet should he admit this and risk forfeiting the one friend who had ever “truly understood” him?” (43). Perry was glad to have at least one person give a damn about him. Did his father? As it says, “yes, up to a point.” But in realty no one else did “except Willie-Jay himself” (45). That Willie-Jay was the only one who really cared about Perry showed a side of Perry’s life. Such as, that his father or his family in general didn‘t care about him.
Willie-Jay is also described in contrast to Dick. While Dick is harsh and “a vicious blusterer” (44), Willie-Jay is reasonable and caring. The description of Willie-Jay and Dick together emphasizes the way Dick is. Perry also seems to use the bad of Willie-Jay to bring out some kind of good in Dick. For example, “unlike Willie-Jay, he was not critical of Perry’s exotic aspirations; he was willing to listen; . . .” (44).
March 11, 2010 at 1:05 am
Shelby Coleman
Comment #1
I, too feel as if Willie Jay was the most memorable minor character so far. It was terribly frusterating to know that if he hadn’t left the bus station, “left, in fact, only five hours earlier, from the same terminal at which Perry arrived”(45), then maybe the whole ordeal wouldn’t have happened. Who is to say that Dick would or would not have continued on with the plan without Perry, but there was always a possibility that he wouldn’t. That sparks my curiosity greatly. It makes me want to know about this man who could have been the difference between the Clutter’s murders or long healthy lives. This is why Capote develops these minor characters so in depth; they add a sense of curiosity, drama, and thouroughness to the mix.
March 22, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Rebecca:)
I agree with Casey! Capote uses this small character to compare the characters Perry and Dick. He describes Willie-Jay as at first “unwise” (42), but later seen from Perry as ” way above average intelllectually” (43). Willie-Jay doesn’t see much of Dick in the book. He believes him to be “a vicious blusterer” (44), and “shallow” (44). But as Willie-Jay leaves the big picture the reader gets a total understanding of why Willie-Jay’s character was even mentioned. Even though Perry thought so much of Willie, he really comes to like and admire Dick. Capote definitly uses this small character as a huge understanding during the novel.
March 9, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Becky Douin
Article # 1
Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
Truman Capote describes Holcomb, Kansas as a “lonesome area that other Kansans call ‘out there’” (3). This shows that Holcomb is an ordinary town because if it were not ordinary, then he might say it was magnificent, or extravagant instead of implying that there isn’t much to see but an “aimless congregation of buildings”(3). However, Holcomb is different because even though there is nothing to the town, everyone can count on everyone. I used to live in a city full of a diversity of people when no one could count on anyone, but in Holcomb, someone is always looking out for you, you have friends to go to, and you can count on pretty much anyone. Capote does a tremendous job in comparing the town to other ones in Carteret County. He shows that Holcomb does not care about social class or any class depictions however, in Garden City “class distinctions are as clearly observed, and as clearly observable” (34). In my own opinion, I believe that Capote spends an abundance amount of time describing the town because he wants to point out that even though the town is simple and boring, anything could happen. Even though you know the outcome of what happens in this town, he wants you to feel that nothing could possibly go wrong in such a low profile town.
March 10, 2010 at 1:44 am
Bailee Pearce
Comment#1
I agree with Becky that Holcomb is a small town. It’s kind of like Wakulla. Here and in Holcomb everyone can count on everyone. I believe that Truman Capote spends of great deal of time describing the town because, like Becky said, he wants you to believe that it’s a small quiet town where nothing would happen like a murder. But I have to say that I don’t think that’s the only reason he spends so much time describing Holcomb Kansas. I think he describes the town so much to make you realize that it’s the perfect setup for a murder. Who would think that anything could ever happen like this in a small “out there” Kansas town where everyone respects everyone, right?
March 22, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Rebecca:)
I agree with Bailey and Becky! Capote describes Holcomb as a “suburb of Garden City” (32), he tells about Mrs. Hideo Ashida and her family, “the kind of people Holcomb’s lucky to have” (35), who contributes to the community greatly. He uses this setting to show how unreal and unpredictable the murders are. This is very clever to me because Capote explains what most people would never expect however, these are the type of families things like that usually happens to.
March 22, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Ashley Alvarez
Ashley Alvarez
6th period
Comment # 2
I agree completely with you! His description really makes you feel as if Holcomb is a safe town. The reader could never imagine anything this horrible to happen. If the description of Holcomb was not as in depth the final outcome might not be as surprising. Holcomb is the most out of the ordinary town for the murders to take place. Capote wants the readers to really realize it will be such a shock when the Clutters are murdered and for no apparent reason.
March 9, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Briana Lech
Briana Lech
6th Period- 1st article
“Is Capote an objective or subjective narrator? As you explain your answer, be sure to include your definitions of “objective” and “subjective,” as well as ample evidence from the book for support.”
Truman Capote, throughout the novel, never once states his opinions, thoughts, or even his existence during the reporting of the Clutter case. Capote steers clear of using a first-person narrative, and solely relies on using a third person outlook throughout the novel. In the book, In Cold Blood, he obviously uses objective narration, which is, stating only facts and not including their personal thoughts and feelings. Capote’s journalistic style of writing is extremely effective when describing the scene of the crime and the victims; he eliminates bias and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. “A half-sole footprint with circles-two holes in the center like a pair of eyes” (65), the book is filled with these detailed facts that allow the reader to visualize the elements of the crime. In a sense, we the reader, are in charge of drawing our own conclusions and our emotions, Capote doesn’t force us believe or feel anything, it just comes natural as a result of him being an objective narrator. “An accident left his long-jawed and narrow face tilted, and the left side slightly lower than the right…” (31). Quotes like these allow the reader to have a clear understanding of what the characters (the quote in particular was regarding Dick) looked and acted like. Overall Truman Capote does a fantastic job as an omnipresent and objective narrator, which makes In Cold Blood a timeless piece of literature.
March 15, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Becky Douin
Comment # 2
I sort of agree with Briana in that Capote definitly writes the novel in third person however I also disagree with her in some aspects. When she gives her opinion of what a objective narrator saying that “stating only facts and not including their personal thoughts and feelings”, I have to disgree with this. I believe that Capotes includes some of the characters feelings and personal thoughts. In the part of the book after the murder happened when he talks about how other people in the town react to it, he shows alot of emotion and shows the people in the towns’ feelings towards the murder.
March 26, 2010 at 2:01 am
Patience Paul
PATIENCE PAUL (6th) COMMENT #3 :::
I basically have to disagree with Brianna here. Plainly, Capote uses an ‘objective’ in retelling the Clutter murders. However, if he was so unbiased, then we would not all have the same basic feeling after reading this nonfiction novel. I can’t imagine one person reading this book then saying: “Those rude inconsiderate nasty spoiled little children and their no-good parents deserved what I thought. Dick and Perry did the world a favor!” Why not? If the retelling of these events would have been so “objective” then somebody might possibly think this. However, Capote was very on-target with making you like the nice pretty little family, relate to them, and ultimately feel sorrow for them. This is not an entirely objective novel.
March 9, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Taylor Craig
Which is more important: nature or nurture? You must use evidence from the book to support your answer; you may use outside resources as well, as long as you provide appropriate citations in MLA format.
In the novel In Cold Blood the already controversial issue “nature vs. nurture” presents itself frequently throughout the pages. The question of whether or not the murders, Dick and Perry’s planning and executing of such a heinous crime was due to their environment as children, or were the two men born with a genetic make-up that would tempt them to act with such unadulterated hate. Would Perry have killed if he had not had such a disturbed childhood? Was there some correlation between Dick’s early years and the fact that he did not take part in the actual killings? In my opinion, nature and nurture both play a large part in the creation of someone’s personality and natural tendencies. Yet, with positive nurturing, individuals suffering from a lack of self-concept stand a better chance at developing coping skills which can help lead to a positive life. Although genetics can be the cause of traits such as hatefulness, rage and the desire to kill, I believe that the experiences throughout one’s life are the determining factor in the person we become and how a person deals with life’s struggles and disappointments.
In the novel, Capote puts much emphasis (especially in the beginning) on Perry’s gentleness, his education, and his quiet sophistication, which most likely would have grown had he been nurtured well as a child. But unfortunately, Perry was born into a highly stressful childhood of abusive acts and substance abuse. If Perry’s life before the murder had been just a little luckier, would he have committed the atrocities, or was he inherently an evil person? “He did give a damn- but who had ever given a damn about him? His father? Yes, up to a point. A girl or two- but that was “a long story”. No one else except Willie-Jay himself” (45). Perry’s gentleness and sophisticated vocabulary are demonstrated in the first part of this paragraph, as is his understanding of people hating him. ‘”Because he hates me,’ said Perry, whose voice was both gentle and prim- a voice that, though soft, manufactured each word exactly, ejected it like a smoke ring issuing from a parson’s mouth” (23). He says all of this calmly, accepting that Dick’s parents hate him with well-mannered grace. The metaphor “ejected it like a smoke ring issuing from a parson’s mouth” is also used in this sentence, an example of both the motif and theme of religion. Perry is continuously offered redemption through religion, but because of the way Perry was raised, he can not bring himself to believe in the idea of a God who loves the world. For what good has God ever done for him? This is yet another example of how Perry’s childhood corrupted him. It makes the reader wonder, if Perry had been born into a less stressful life, would he have grown into the educated gentle and sophisticated man we all know he has the potential to be? Often it is not just a parent who can provide the positive, nurturing that humans need to develop. It can come from friends, religious leaders, or even the kindness of strangers. The key is to find someone to connect with; someone who one can find unconditional acceptance from. Sadly, Perry did not have such a support system and his inadequacies, disillusions and anger took over.
March 10, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Casey Martin
I agree with a lot of what you said. While Perry may have inherited traits that would have set him on a path of good, those were not the leading factors that shaped him into the person he became. I think that no matter how good a person could be, if they are taught to be bad and they just don’t know any better they will lead a negative life. While, with the same idea, a person who is taught morales will know what’s right and wrong. Ultimately, nature is a contributer, but nurture is the main factor into shaping a person.
March 9, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Shelby Coleman
Shelby Coleman 1st Article
Topic: “Read and respond to one of the articles on this fascinating website: http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/. If you find another website or article about Capote or In Cold Blood, you may use that as well.”
I was shocked and confused when I began reading the article “A Book That Changed a Town,” on the non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood. This article is written by Van Jensen and it is exploring the reactions of the surviving Clutters to the publicity, the town’s reaction, and possible motives that Truman Capote had to write this story. It delves into these issues for the 40th Anniversary of the publication of Capote’s novel. The logic and opinions of the town baffled me, in that they wanted to completely forget about everything that occurred on that night 50 years ago.
One comment in the article is stated as follows, “…even now the Finney County Historical Museum in nearby Garden City, contains no mention of just this one prominent farm family, the murders or the publicity the crimes have brought to the area. And nowhere in Holcomb is the Clutter family commemorated, no matter their accomplishments while living” (Jensen). I was completely taken aback when I read this. I simply didn’t understand why the people in Holcomb would want to erase the Clutters from the town’s history. It is clear that the situation must have caused an immeasurable amount of pain, but to pretend as if nothing occurred at all is an insult to them in my opinion. The mayor of Holcomb made a comment, “A memorial would just open up the wounds. Why do we have memorials? To remind us” (Jensen). Of course no one would want to think about the tragedy any more than they have to, but the Clutters were a large part of that society. They were leaders of the community and I feel that they deserve to be remembered even if it brings up the negative emotions as well.
Those same people didn’t react too well to the novel by Truman Capote, either. Most of them, including the lawyer who helped sentence the killers to death, have never even read the book. Some even say that Capote “used a tragic event as a creative writing exercise and little more” (Jensen). I disagree vehemently. Capote opened the eyes of people who would otherwise have never known, or cared about this event. Millions of people who would have never heard of the Clutters now feel the pain of such a family being lost. It was not a disservice that Capote was doing, in my opinion. Though I haven’t finished reading the novel, I have found no suspicion of subjectivity or ulterior motive. This is a completely fact by fact account of an event that needed to be explored and understood.
Jensen, Van. “The Book that Changed a Town.” Lawrence Journal-World. Web. 3 April 2005.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/apr/03/the_book_that/
March 21, 2010 at 12:07 am
Mallory Thompson
Mallory Thompson comment # 2
I agree with alot of what Shelby says. The town thinks that they are doing good by not making a memorial as not to be reminded but what about in a hundred years? No one will ever know what happend. Unless they read the book such a thing will never cross their minds. I can see why the people wouldnt want to read the book though. They might disagree with the way Capote portrays the family or think that he insults them so they don’t want to remember the Clutters that way. Time takes a toll on the memory and if they read In Cold Blood information that is not quite accurate will be seen as such. And who would want to read about their friends and family being murdered. Its not a little fiction story that ends when the book closes but actually continues in their everyday life. I do agree with Shelby when she says that Capote is an objective writer though. I too see no personal feelings or beliefs in what i have read. I also agree with how Shelby disagrees that the book is a “Creative writing excercise and little more”. Capotes not trying to write this story for fame but let the story be heard. “Capote opened the eyes of people who would otherwise have never known, or cared about this event. ” (Shelby).
March 10, 2010 at 1:19 am
Bailee Pearce
Article # 1
Argumentative Article Topics
Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone?
Dick and Perry are two sick human beings in my opinion. I have been reading the descriptions found in the novel In Cold Blood about what they did to the Clutter family, and by the evidence in the novel I say yes, they deserve the death penalty. ” That wonderful girl-but you wouldn’t have known her. She had been shot in the back of the head with a shotgun about two inches away. ” (62) What kind of person, or persons, could kill an innocent child in the violent way that they did. Sick people, people who deserve the death penalty. “She’d been tied up too, but different – with her hands in front of her , so that she looked like she were praying.” (63) As soon as I read this I thought that Dick and Perry were estranged human beings. Why would they tie her hands in a praying position? To mock their Christian beliefs? What kind of people would do this? Again I say people who deserve the death penalty. With every vivid description in the book, I keep saying yes to the question of does Dick and Perry deserve the harshest sentence out there, death.
I haven’t finished reading the whole novel yet, but I know that my opinion will not change about whether or not these men deserve the death penalty. I believe that these two men should be killed the exact same way that they killed the Clutter family. They should be shot in the back of the head (62) just like they killed Nancy Clutter. And they should be tied up (62-63) just like they tied up the Clutter family. I believe that anyone who has murdered someone deserves the death penalty. They should be put through the same torture that they put their victim else through.
March 10, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Kelsey Alyea
I completely agree with you Bailee! Anyone who is able to murder someone so cruely with almost no shame at all should be put to death. How would they learn if they just get away with it? I do not quite agree with getting the same punishment that they gave their victums….but it seems almost fair enough.
Just a quick reply in the text of your article, when giving your opinion or adressing a topic in an essay don’t use I. It weakens your argument because what you have to say is just an opinion, not fact. You did do a good job though using textual examples of cruelty, and I liked how you analyzed that when they were tying her hands up that it could be mocking her at the same time. Good job.
March 10, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Brooklynn Tindall
Brooklynn Tindall
Comment 1
I agree with Bailee completly about the two men deserving the death penalty. The pain and agony they put the Clutters through deserves the most terrible and excrutiating penalty possible. Unlike Bailee i believe the punishment should be worse than what they did to the Clutter’s. Especially because they were the most loved family in Holcomb. For example nobody could believe that they were dead. The passage states “Because their dead,and Bonnie too, and Nancy , and the boy too.”(69). “Myrt-don’t say things like that.”(69). The awe that the towns people went through with the news should bother the two killers but it doesn’t. The grief of the two oldest daughter’s of the Clutter’s should be running through Dick and Perry’s mind, but they could care less. So i from my opinion believe these two so called”men” deserve to be treated like the animals they really are.
March 11, 2010 at 3:10 am
Christina Mathis
Comment #1
I agree with Bailee on the fact that Dick and Perry are morose human beings with no sense of compassion for each other or the Clutter family. They absolutely deserve the death penalty as punishment for the hienous crime they committed. “Kenyon…gagged with adhesive tape and bound hand and foot…he’d been shot in the face, directly” (64). This is an act that could only be preformed by the ‘lowest animal’ of the human race. Mr. Clutter, who had been “dead before he was shot…or dying…because his throat had been cut too” (64-65). Was the most gruesom of the deaths. With “tape wrapped plumb around his head” and “strung up by his hands, and then cut down” (65), only a disdain person could brew such a method of murder.
If a life is taken from a person, then the person who took that life should bare the same. Dick and Perry should be given the death penalty as repercussions to the town of Holcomb and to the Clutter family. They took 4 lives, and should, therefore, be robbed of their own.
March 11, 2010 at 2:59 am
Christian Wilkes
This is a very iffy topic for me. If you don’t know HOW the death sentance is carried out For dick and Perry, and don’t want it ruined, stop reading this reply.
While I do belive that Dick and Perry should have faced and been given the Death sentance at the beginning of the Trial, I end up feeling that after a wait of three years (336) Dick and Perry suffered in such a way that their mentality was broken, and losing ones sanity and/or humanity can be a hefty fine. At this point, my Aggreement with their punishment wavers. While I am leaning more towards a life sentence, I can see the rationality behind a death Sentence. What I don’t agree with at this point is the very Inhumane way the sentence was carried out. Both men were hanged (337) and I dont care what you did, no one deserves to be killed in such a way as a hanging. The death is intolerably painful, and can last hours. At least it could have been more humane.
And then it all comes back to the idea of the death penalty itsself, on anyone. Could the Death Sentance be considered as a form of murder in itself?
March 10, 2010 at 1:22 am
Kyle Roddenberry
Kyle Roddenberry Article #1
Syntax: Capote is known for his elaborate sentence structure and use of parallelism. Pick a paragraph in which Capote’s syntax is especially impressive and write an analysis explaining why his sentence structure is effective.
In the book In Cold Blood written by Truman Capote, there is a myriad of sentences that truly embrace Capote’s style of writing his elaborate sentences. It is evident through out the entire book that Capote uses his elaborate syntax to clearly get his point across to the reader. He starts this use of detailed sentence structure even within the first sentence which is composed of twenty-two words which he uses to get your attention and to describe village of Holcomb, Kansas through words such as “…village…high…western…lonesome…”out there”” (3). Then the most impressive paragraph in the book would have to be the second paragraph (3-4). Through the complex use of syntax in this paragraph Capote effectively describes Holcomb in a way that makes you see it in your mind and gives you a feel of the slow paced life of the people that reside in Holcomb. In this paragraph there are many sentences that he writes that describe the town such as the second sentence which is 62 words long (3). In this sentence alone Capote makes you understand the layout of the small town through descriptive words such as “…aimless congregation… haphazard hamlet…brown stretch of Arkansas River…wheat fields.”(3).The long drawn out sentence structure is not only very descriptive which helps you picture every thing he writes, but it gives you a feeling of a slow paced life that the Holcomb residents have. Capote’s elaborate use of syntax is clearly effective because it can do what he wants it to do whether that is to describe something or to convey a feeling such as he does in the second paragraph.
March 10, 2010 at 2:27 am
Tyler Brown
Comment #1
I strongly agree with Kyle’s article. Time and time again, Capote uses extremely elaborate sentence structure to really paint you a picture of Holcomb and the people in it. For example, “One of these barns was a mammoth Quonset hut; it brimmed with grain-Westland sorghum-and one of them housed a dark pungent hill of milo grain worth considerable money-a hundred thousand dollars.” As Kyle mentioned in his article, the long and elaborate sentence Capote uses gives you a sense of how slow life in Holcomb is, while still expertly describing the details of the town.
March 15, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Becky Douin
Comment # 3
I do agree with Kyle and Tyler both. However, I also so another point in the way Capote utilizes his sentence structure. I agree with the fact that he uses long sentences in that paragraph to show how slow life is and how much he shows the town. Also, I agree with Kyle in that the long descriptive sentences make you visualize the town in your mind. However, I also think that he starts the book out with the long and agonizing descriptions to get you prepared for the shocking murder that occurs in the town. I think that the long sentences with the descriptions of the town make you think that nothing would happen like that in such a dull, boring town.
March 10, 2010 at 2:09 am
Ashley Alvarez
Ashley Alvarez- 6th period
1st article
What is the effect of the author’s use of montage (repeatedly switching back-and-forth between Holcomb and the approaching killers)?
The way In Cold Blood was written keeps you wanting to read more. Capote switches back and forth between the Clutter family and the murderers, Dick and Perry, to always keep you thinking about what could happen next. In the beginning of the novel Capote shows the readers through his descriptive writing what a typical day in the Clutter household is like. He starts with how Mr. Clutter starts his day “Ordinarily, Mr. Clutter’s mornings began at six-thirty…” (7). He then describes each of the other members of the family starting with each child then to Mrs. Clutter saying she was “nervous” and suffered from “little spells” (7) allowing the reader to make a connection with the family. After describing the Clutters he moves on to telling the reader about what Dick and Perry were doing to prepare for the murder. He writes about each step they take throughout the day and what they actually did. “The first purchase was a pair of rubber gloves…” (36). By writing what the family was doing in their final moments while simultaneously telling what the murderers were doing, it always keeps the reader wondering. For example, when Capote is writing about what the Clutters were doing on their last day you are still thinking about what Dick and Perry could be doing or how close they are, always keeping you on your toes wanting to know more. The reader keeps thinking what if. What if Nancy would have gone with Bobby to the movies (50)? Would she have not have arrived at home by the time Dick and Perry got there? Would she have been able to warn her family? Using the montage keeps you hooked and intrigued to see what could possibly happen next.
March 21, 2010 at 12:22 am
Mallory Thompson
Mallory Thompson Comment #3
I agree with Ashley’s interpretation of the questions. Capote uses the montage to constantly keep us on our toes. He tells us what the killers are doing and the Clutters. This constant swithing builds supspense and thats the effect i get from it. You also develop the effect of sympathy for the Clutters because the more you learn about them the closer you get to their deaths. Because you know whats going to happen it alomost makes it harder to read on because you know their going to die and theres no getting around it. I also agree with Ashleys what ifs. Those also give an effect on the writer. By constantly switching between the Clutters an dthe killers, apote is almost teasing us. He knows that we know and hes going to tell us every little thing he can before getting to the murder which drags it out more and more. And by telling the events of two different groups, (killers and Clutter) Capote has extended his time in getting to the climax. Hes also extended his timeline by starting from the very beginning of the day, as Ashley said.
March 10, 2010 at 3:43 am
Patience Paul
Patience Paul (6th period) – 1st Article:::::
An allusion is a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events. In In Cold Blood, Truman Capote uses this rhetorical device to simplify his meaning in describing Mr. Clutter’s breakfast. “… his celebrated coconut cookies were the first item to go at charity cake sales – but he was not a hearty eater; unlike his fellow-ranchers, he even preferred Spartan breakfasts. That morning an apple and a glass of milk were enough for him…” Allusions are often used to summarize broad, complex ideas or emotions in one quick, powerful image, they can serve an important function in writing in that they allow the reader to understand a difficult concept by relating to an already familiar story. By referring to Mr. Clutter’s minimal meal as a ‘Spartan breakfast,’ Capote was successful in relating this image to a well-known reference for the reader to better understand Mr. Clutter’s character. This is because, not only were Spartans famous for eating small, scarce meals, but the term is also used to describe the character of a Spartan. By saying Mr. Clutter eats as a Spartan, Capote is saying he eats worthy of the ancient Spartans – who tended to do without luxuries and extras. So by adding this short, simple, allusion, Capote subtly tells the reader that Mr. Clutter was a man of honor, who would do without the fancy materials in life if need be. This comes to show, that allusions, when used properly, can be a great asset in literature.
March 10, 2010 at 3:46 am
Patience Paul
Fixed::
Patience Paul (6th period) – 1st Article:::::
An allusion is a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events. In In Cold Blood, Truman Capote uses this rhetorical device to simplify his meaning in describing Mr. Clutter’s breakfast. “… his celebrated coconut cookies were the first item to go at charity cake sales – but he was not a hearty eater; unlike his fellow-ranchers, he even preferred Spartan breakfasts. That morning an apple and a glass of milk were enough for him…” (9). Allusions are often used to summarize broad, complex ideas or emotions in one quick, powerful image, they can serve an important function in writing in that they allow the reader to understand a difficult concept by relating to an already familiar story. By referring to Mr. Clutter’s minimal meal as a ‘Spartan breakfast,’ Capote was successful in relating this image to a well-known reference for the reader to better understand Mr. Clutter’s character. This is because, not only were Spartans famous for eating small, scarce meals, but the term is also used to describe the character of a Spartan. By saying Mr. Clutter eats as a Spartan, Capote is saying he eats worthy of the ancient Spartans – who tended to do without luxuries and extras. So by adding this short, simple, allusion, Capote subtly tells the reader that Mr. Clutter was a man of honor, who would do without the fancy materials in life if need be. This comes to show, that allusions, when used properly, can be a great asset in literature.
March 10, 2010 at 3:48 am
Rebecca Rivers
Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone?
I do believe both of them should face the death penalty! “Scrubbed, combed, as tidy as two dudes setting off on a double date…” (32). Dick and Perry are dressed to impress but we don’t know where they are going. Their appearance as Capote described was vulgar and extremely rude. Dick’s body was covered in tattoos, “…a gremlin brandishing a pitchfork…” (30), was only one of the many. His face was also disordered, “…Imperfectly aligned features…” (31), from a car collision. Perry had “dwarfish legs” (31), so everything he wore was fixed in order for them to fit him. Perry also had disturbing tattoos, for example “a spitting snake, coiled around a dagger, slithered down his arm…” (32). All of these features are how you would see a typical murderer. Dick had been planning the night, Perry just listened. Dick’s mind was unbelievable. He wanted everything to be perfect down to the color of stocking he wore. As he put on his gloves they tore “not a dangerous tear, just a split between the fingers, but it seemed to him an omen” (53). A normal person would never even imagine doing such a thing as murdering an innocent family. That is why both Perry and Dick should face the death penalty. Even though Dick planned it and arranged everything, Perry was an accomplice.
March 11, 2010 at 4:24 am
Ryan Leigh
I agree with Rebecca. Anybody who has taken the life of somebody should atleast be considered for the death penalty; And also given it if the crime was even half as bad as Dick and Perry’s murders. Perry was involved in the murders as well, so I agree too that he should also be given the death penalty. Even though Dick planned it, Perry still did what he did, and has to pay for what he did. The only reason why they should not deserve the death penalty is so that they could rot in prison for the rest of their life.
March 20, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Briana Lech
6th period- Comment #2
Rebecca and Ryan both make strong arguements regarding if the two killers should recieve the death penalty, I totally agree with both of them. Dick and Perry not only murdered the Clutter family, but they show no remorse for their actions,this shows how much of a psychopath these men are and their risk for killing others is quite likely. The only thing that would even come close to getting justice for the remaining Clutter clan and others who were close to the family is to…put the men who committed the crime to death. Not only will some justice be served, but the streets of the United States would be safer. Ultimately in my opinion, Dick and Perry do not deserve to stay in prison for the rest of their lives, while all their needs are satisfied, they should be put to death for their crime.
March 10, 2010 at 3:48 am
Tyler Brown
6th period Article #1 for Tyler Brown
Nature vs. Nurture: Which is more important: nature or nurture? You must use evidence from the book to support your answer; you may use outside resources as well, as long as you provide appropriate citations in MLA format.
In the novel “In Cold Blood”, there is a constant comparison of nature versus nurture. Throughout the years there has always been an argument on whether or not nature or nurture poses a bigger influence on a person’s characteristics and personalities. In my opinion, nurture is what ultimately decides the outcome of a person’s life. When you have a constant bad influence when you are growing up, you are much more likely to be that way when you mature. But if you are constantly surrounded by good influences when you are young, then you will be much more successful in life.
In Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock are two completely opposite sides of nurture. This is because of Perry’s lonely and mistreated upbringing, compared to Dick’s great childhood and stable upbringing. Perry was never loved by his mother. For example, “But rite after school was out, he ran away to my lawyer’s office. Rinso Turco. I took my boy back to his mother and left the City. Perry later told me, his mother told him to find a new home.”(126). This quote shows that Perry never felt like part of a family. This made him feel as if he had nothing to lose. This made him less hesitant to murder the Clutter family. Dick on the other hand, is the complete opposite. He had something to lose. He has a family to go home to. He was loved and taught right from wrong as a child. Dick was much more hesitant than Perry and realized that he had something to lose. He had people to disappoint.
I personally believe that nurture is much more important than nature. Without a proper childhood or something to look up to, you have no chance as an adult. If you have more to lose, you are much less likely to do something to jeopardize losing it.
March 24, 2010 at 2:33 am
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s extra credit comment #2
While I agree with Tyler about the affects of nuture on your personality and characteristics, I fail to see his reasoning behind Dick and Perry’s feelings toward the murders. Dick was the one who planned out the idea based on a fellow prisoner’s nostalgia. “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…” (161-162). Based on Floyd Wells’ testimony, Dick was the mastermind behind the plan long before he had gotten out of jail and outlined it to Perry. His partner, on the other hand, was a young man that was an “instant conceiver of voyages” (14) and had dreams of Cozumel, the Yucatan penninsula, and buried treasure. It seems like Dick was more determined to commit such a horrific crime than Perry, based on their personalities and desires.
March 26, 2010 at 1:19 am
Taylor Craig
I see both points of views made by Logan and Tyler but on this particular subject I must agree with Tyler in saying that nurture is a more important factor in the shaping of a life than nature. Perry expresses a traumatic childhood throughout the book; one full of abusive acts and substance abuse. Perry’s gentleness and sophisticated vocabulary are demonstrated in the first part of this paragraph, as is his understanding of people hating him. ‘”Because he hates me,’ said Perry, whose voice was both gentle and prim- a voice that, though soft, manufactured each word exactly, ejected it like a smoke ring issuing from a parson’s mouth” (23). He says all of this calmly, accepting that Dick’s parents hate him with well-mannered grace. He does not have the mind of the steryotypical murderer and can be in fact very gentle and accepting. It makes the reader wonder, if Perry had been born into a less stressful life, would he have grown into the educated gentle and sophisticated man we all know he has the potential to be? I believe he would have been if he had been brought up in a stable home with a positive social connection.
March 10, 2010 at 4:09 am
Christina Mathis
Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
On page 3 of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, Holcomb, Kansas is described as “the countryside, with its hard blue skies and desert-clear air” (3). Like any country-like town, everybody knows everybody and people have a sense of trust among the community. I believe the author is trying to convey this fact while describing the town-drama “hav[ing] never stopped there” (5). Capote characterizes Holcolm of having only “two filling stations, one of which doubles as a meagerly supplied grocery store, while the other does extra duty as a cafe” (4). This confirms that Holcomb is a scanty, un-commercialized town similar to that of Garden City, “another fair sized town in the middle of the continental United States” (33).
Holcomb is also different from other small towns in many ways. Being described as “out there” (3), with “the inhabitants, numbering two hundred and seventy,” (5) who were too trusting you could say. Making this the perfect town to commit such a heinous crime -murder. After all, the Clutter name was “the community’s most widely known citizen” (6). No one expected it; the town was in awe of the affair.
Capote describes a ‘perfect’ town, a ‘perfect’ family, surrounded by a ‘perfect’ community, so to speak. On the contrary, in a town such as this-unsuspecting and credulous-nothing is impossible. In a tight-knit society, anything is feasible.
March 10, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Taylor Craig
I agree with Christina in her analysis. Capote spends an immense amount of time describing this small “haphhzard hamlet” (3) because he wants the reader to realize that such horrific crime does not only happen in the bustleing streets of cities such as Miama or New York. But also in the quite countryside homes in towns consisting of two hndred and seventy such as Holcomb, Kansas. This is a town where everyone knew and trusted everyone “…theretofore sufficiently unfearful of each other to sedom trouble to lock their doors…” (5). Holcomb, Kansas represents”mainstreet USA”. Furthermore, people are often lulled into a false sense of security when living in a small town; one knows eveyone else and you often bump into neighbors at the grocery store or local park. Yet, studies show that crime happens anywhere given the right cirumstances. Often crime in small towns is seen more as opportunity oriented rather than orgainzed yet, the resulting trauma is the same. Does one really know what is going on behind your neighboors door?
March 10, 2010 at 4:35 am
Christian Wilkes
SPOILER**
ARTICLE 1- “Prologue- Who is Francois Villon? From what text are the four lines borrowed? Find at least 2 translations of these lines. Which one of the two do you prefer? Why? Why does Capote use these specific lines, from this specific poet, for this book”
Francois Villon is a French poet who was born in the late 1400’s, a man well known for poems containing all of human emotion into a simple sentence. The four lines found at rhw Beginning of In Cold Blood, are borrowed from Villon’s poem Ballade des Pendus, or Ballade of the Hanged. In the original Old French, the lines say:
Freres humains qui après nous vivez,
N’ayez les cuers contre nous endurcis,
Car, se pitié de nous povres avez,
Dieu en aura plus tost de vous mercis.
One Translation I found said the lines translated to say
Brothers, men who live after us,
Let not your hearts be hardened against us,
Because, if you have pity for us poor men,
God will have more mercy toward you. (“Ballade Des Pendus-Medieval Poetry”)
The other one said,
Brothers that live when we are dead,
don’t set yourself against us too.
If you could pity us instead,
then God may sooner pity you (Doctor, “Ballade of the Hanged (Villon’s Epitaph) — Francois Villon).
Personally, I feel the second translation to be the more apt one, and also the one which is much easier to understand. When you look at the novel, and at how everything played out with Dick and Perry, and how Capote has written his book in such away that you do not know everything until the end, you can see what Capote wanted to say. IT seems that Capote is warning his audience. He’s saying “Don’t judge until you know it all, and even then, judge with a kind heart.” And also, when looked at in another way, you could see it as Capote’s way of reiterating the old adage “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” Because when you go to look at the book, and how in the end Perry feels remorse, but suffers the fate of death row anyways, then Dick, who swears “I never touched a hair on a human head,”(Capote, 325).
Capotre uses these lines to make a reader take pause, and look at the book unattached, and with an open mind. These lines become a constant reminder, that you can’t assume something, such as the death sentencen is right just because you’ve been told so your entire life.
BIB
Doctor, Vikram. “The Wondering Minstrels: Ballade of the Hanged (Villon’s Epitaph) — Francois Villon.” The Wondering Minstrels. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Mar. 2010. .
“Ballade des Pendus.” Medieval Poetry. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2010.
March 10, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Ashley Hero
What Christian didn’t mention is that Francois Villion was also a fairly infamous criminal in and around Paris. He was known for killing a priest in a bar-room brawl, and was almost killed for it himself had the priest not pardoned him while on his deathbed. He was a thief and was frequently arrested for brawling, and was almost hung for one had he not been pardoned at literally the last minute. Instead he was banished and never heard from again.
March 22, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Casey Martin
Comment 3
I think I agree with Christian that the second translation is more tied to the book than the first. Through the book Capote does not say any negative comment toward Dick or Perry besides which others have already stated. There seems to be, in fact, an underlying pity for the criminals.
When she says it’s like Capote is saying “don’t judge until you know it all”, I recall that Capote seems to try to make sure you do know it all. So as to judge properly.
March 22, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Bailee Pearce
Comment #2
I agree with Christian that the second translation fits the book more than the first. But she brings the death penalty into play and thats a strong topic to me. How can i judge these two criminals with a “Kind heart” when they caused a familyies to stop beating. They asre criminals and muderers and they desrev what they asked for when they commeted this awful crime. I think this says that when they finally get waht they deserve that we should not hate them as much for what they did to this family.
March 10, 2010 at 4:48 am
Ryan Leigh
Who is Francois Villon? From what text are the four lines borrowed? Find at least 2 translations of these lines. Which one of the two do you prefer? Why? Why does Capote use these specific lines, from this specific poet, for this book?
Francois Villon was a French poet and thief during the 15th century. He is best known for his Testaments and his Ballade des Pendus, written while in prison. This particular poem is an exceprt from his BALLAD OF THE GIBBET.
First Translation:
Human brothers who live after us
Don’t have your hearts towards us hardened
Because, if pity of poor us you have
God will sooner have mercy on you
Second Translation:
Mortal brothers who after us live on
Be not hardened when our fate is known
But pity us our ills when we are gone
And likewise God will pity you your own
I prefer the first translation of this poem because its describing how the generations after us are going to regret the world we created for them. It describes that God will soon have mercy on the future peoples of our world and rectify the problems we caused.
Capote uses these lines for this book because the poet himself is a criminal. To me it almost seems as if its an apology from the murders. They are apologizing to the rest of the world and the future people who populate it for the hate and crime caused from people like themselves.
March 10, 2010 at 4:48 am
Josh Dismuke
Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
Holcomb is a small rural town in western Kansas. Holcomb could easily be any other small town. It’s rural, populated mostly by farmers and ranchers. It is ordinary basically because it is not extraordinary, in other words Holcomb does not have anything special that could make it stand out. Holcomb is a stereotypical small town. It has its fading miniscule town center, surrounded by farms that cover acres and acres of land. It is in the middle of no where, unlikely that anyone would ever heard of it if it wasn’t for the murders. Even though Holcomb is an ordinary town it does have a few unique differences. For example Holcomb is a moderately successful place because not only can they export farm products but they also export natural gas which is plentiful in the region. As a result many of the people in Holcomb are prosperous and this shows though the school which, unlike most of the area, is very good-looking Carteret County compared to Holcomb is more “modernized” you won’t find nearly as many farms even though it is still a rural area. Capote spends so much time describing the town to show this is just like every other small town in America and how if it can happen in little-old Holcomb it can happen anywhere.
March 10, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Delia Ostojich
I fully agree with Josh’s statements about how Holcomb really couldn’t be expected of any henious crimes. Capote sets this story in a town where everyone is known, and well respected. They make their living through farming and ranching. Since there has been a lack of rain, they make their living through exporting natural gas. All these proceeds were put into building a new school, which in some cases, is the focal point of the “run down” town because it is new. This makes it the perfect place to commit a horrible and terrible murder, that causes neighbors to view friends as strangers.
March 10, 2010 at 6:15 am
Megan Spears
Read and respond to one of the articles on this fascinating website: http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/. If you find another website or article about Capote or In Cold Blood, you may use that as well.
Sisters, family: Surviving Clutter daughters hope to preserve their parents’ legacy
In the article “Sisters, family: Surviving Clutter daughters hope to preserve their parents’ legacy,” it tells of the oldest surviving daughters of the Clutter family, Beverly and Eveanna. In years after the death of their parents and two youngest siblings, the sisters were faced with many struggles trying to cope with the brutal murder of the family. As most all family members would want for their deceased relatives, the daughters of Herb and Bonnie Clutter wanted to keep their family’s legacy alive also. “We want to remember our parents in a positive light, not the negative.’ As both daughters have declined interviews over the years, controversy has arose of Truman’s novel, ‘In Cold Blood’. It has been said that Capote, has portrayed the characters in the book to be more or less than what they were in real life. Herb as Capote portrays him, was a wealthy guy with an astonishing farm, in real life, he had less money than Perry and Dick pondered, and the farm was “impressive but not extravagant”. Through the years the daughters aging in their early 70’s, have tried not to talk about the horrific event that occured in the early hours of November 15. 1959, instead they have made scrapbooks to keep a positive, uplifting memory of their family. If I were ever faced with a tragedy similar to this, I would react the same to a book written if falsely described the people who were close to me. As hard as it is for most to cope with death of others, I would find it extremely hard to have someone writing about my family in a way that does not describe the way they were in real life. As thrilling as it is to read the novel, putting yourself in the shoes of people who cherished memories with the victims of the murder, one can simply see the controversy that has been brought by this novel.
March 21, 2010 at 1:02 am
Mallory Thompson
Mallory Thompson extra credit comment #2
I agree with what Megan says about it being hard having to read about your familys murder. Those are details i definetly would not want to relive. People keep saying why wouldn’t someone want to read this book?; he dosn’t say anything bad! But its not what he says that they don’t want to read, they just don’t want to read about their families being brutally murdered. These were people they had known all their lives, taken away from them in an instant. Thats something no human would want to relive. But i like how they want to relive the good memories about their family. Their not forgetting everything about them but remembering he good things. Thats the way it should be done.
March 26, 2010 at 12:16 am
Briana Lech
Briana Lech
Comment #3
I totally agree with what Megan wrote in her article; it must have been impossible for the surviving sisters to grieve and cope with the loss of their parents and siblings after ‘In Cold Blood’ was written. Although the book is fascinating to readers, the family might not agree with Capote’s description of the Clutter family. Capote never said anything negative regarding the Clutter’s but he made it seem like Herb Clutter had something to hide. This makes it understandable why the surviving sisters do not want to read the novel. Additionally, it is quite graphic how Capote describes their death. Beverly and Eveanna should remember their family in a positive light and not with the detailed description of the murder at the forefront of their mind.
March 26, 2010 at 1:32 am
Christina Mathis
Comment #2
I agree with Megan and the Clutter sisters, that yes, Truman Capote should have portrayed the family the way it was. Instead, he has exemplified their wealth and success.
But, I can also agree with Capote. That, sure, he was writing a novel based on the Clutter murders in 1959. However, he must put his own little twist in his writing, a spin on the story so to speak; much like musicians do with their songs. The story is different in the eyes of every person Capote interviewed, so he must draw a conclusion from the information as a whole. He had to take an immense amount of testimony and narrow each down to what he considered the “real accounts.”
March 10, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Taylor Webb
Article #1
Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
The village of Holcomb Kansas stands on high wheat plains in Finney County. According to Capote it’s a lonesome area that other Kansans call “out there.” Capote describes this town as having “an atmosphere that is rather more Far West than Middle West.”
Holcomb is, by many counts, a stereotypical “western” Kansas town. Located in what one would refer to as “the middle of nowhere’” the town features the staples of small-town life: one or two boarded-up shops, a scattering of apartments, a few local businesses, and fields as far as the eye can see. In fact, the rural Kansan town seems like the completely wrong place for a horrific and shocking murder to occur — part of the reason that Truman Capote spends so much time describing Holcomb.
Indeed, the lengthy and vivid description of the town almost makes the reader feel at home in the new and unknown setting. If it weren’t for such abrupt and mood altering sentences such as, “Then, touching the brim of his cap, he headed for home and the day’s work, unaware that it would be his last” (page 13), Holcomb could be almost any other down, even in Carteret County. The community feel familiar, it is close-knit and amiable (if not altogether friendly); and a sense of blissful comfort and ease drapes the setting.
March 11, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s 2nd article for “In Cold Blood” – 6th period
“Capote carefully depicts the personalities of secondary characters, such as Al Dewey. Why do you think he does this and what do these detailed portraits add to the book? Which of the secondary characters do you find most memorable and why?”
“The Bureau’s Garden City representative… is a lean and handsome fourth-generation Kansan of forty-seven named Alvin Adams Dewey” (80). From the very first mention of Al Dewey, Truman Capote has thrown to the readers a list of numerable amount of facts and background information. Dewey works for the KBI (Kansas Bureau of Investigation) and “it was inevitable that… the sheriff… should ask Al Dewey to take charge of the Clutter case” (80). By going into well-rounded detail about Dewey’s job history and home life, the reader begins to picture an actual human being in their minds. Through Capote’s attention to the little details, he can make a secondary character seem just as important (and likeable) as the main characters in the novel.
Through the interaction that Capote documents between Dewey and his family, this true (although unimaginably horrific) account now seems more believable, because you have a front row view of the actual emotions and opinions of those that were involved in the aftermath of the Clutter family tragedy. “’Don’t worry, honey. Just lock the doors and turn on the porch light.’… ‘What’s wrong? Marie scared?’ ‘Hell, yes,’ Dewey said. ‘Her, and everybody else’” (87). Dewey’s wife hasn’t even been mentioned in the book yet until this moment, but you immediately feel a connection with her because you, even as the reader, are scared too. Every Holcomb citizen and every enraptured reader are all anxious, proven by the fact that “locks and bolts are the fastest-going item” (88).
In my opinion, so far, my favorite secondary character in “In Cold Blood” is Bobby Rupp. The deep emotion and sorrow that is portrayed every time he is mentioned makes my heart ache. Going through the loss of your long-term girlfriend to the hands of ruthless and cruel killers would be devastatingly traumatic. Not to mention the fact that, as of now, he is the main suspect in the murder case of this family that he so dearly loved. Bobby’s shattered heart and broken spirit could not be hid any longer once he had reached the Clutter home after hearing the news, and you can just imagine his little brother (who had followed him there) watching painfully as “Bobby began to cry” (73).
March 11, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Kyle Roddenberry
Kyle Roddenberry Reply to Taylor Webb Article #1
I agree that most aspects of Holcomb is a normal community, but I think that Capote also wanted to try and make you see that although it was somewhat ordinary it was also different. I think that in the very beggining he trys to get you to believe that it is a better than normal, or picture perfect town so you don’t think that any thing bad would happen. He makes it seem unordinary because he makes look like no one would ever commit a horrific crime such as murder. I also agree that he trys to make you feel like you have lived there before by showing you the town through several different peoples perspectives. He really paints a picture with his descriptive language.
March 15, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Becky Douin
Article # 2
Capote is known for his elaborate sentence structure and use of parallelism. Pick a paragraph in which Capote’s syntax is especially impressive and write an analysis explaining why his sentence structure is effective.
In the first paragraph on page 92, Capote has shown very impressive sentence structure, making it a very effective way of writing this particular paragraph. He begins this paragraph by talking about “a riddle that Perry pondered” (Pg 92). He begins it with two detailed sentences which effectively show the reader the mysteriousness that Perry feels. “He felt he’d solved it, but the solution, while simple, was also somewhat hazy: ‘No. Because once a thing is set to happen, all you can do is hope it won’t. Or will-depending. As long as you live, there’s always something waiting, and even if it’s bad, and you know it’s bad, what can you do,’” (Pg 92)? Capote then goes into short, choppy sentences to be frank about how Perry feels about the ‘solution’ to the riddle. The small, yet informative sentences effectively show the power behind them. “You can’t stop living. Like my dream. Where I’m in Africa. A jungle,” (Pg 92). Then Capote uses dash marks in a few sentences to effectively make certain points in junction with the sentence. “Only, it’s beautiful to look at-it has blue leaves and diamonds hanging everywhere. Diamonds like oranges. That’s why I’m there-to pick myself a bushel of diamonds,” (Pg 92). All in all, Capote’s use of different kinds of sentences effectively shows the emotion and description, or lack of description, in this paragraph.
March 17, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Becky Douin
Article #3
Truman Capote said “timeliness” was important to writing great journalism. He said, “You want to be reasonably certain that the material not soon date.” Forty years after In Cold Blood’s first publication, does the book still possess an element of “timeliness”?
I do believe that In Cold Blood possess an element of timeliness for the day in age it was written. Back then in the west, you normally did not hear about a murder in a quiet town. The word timeliness refers to the subject you’re talking about, in this case it is In Cold Blood, and if it was “at a suitable time.” In my opinion, I believe that Truman Capote did compose this piece at the right time in history. Back in the day when he wrote this novel, it was in a town “where drama never stopped there”, at least, nothing exciting or story worthy anyways (Pg 5). Then, all of a sudden “in mid-November of 1959”, “four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives” made the town of Holcomb a town to remember (Pg 5). Because of the treachery in the novel about the murders, “many old neighbors viewed each other strangely, and as strangers,” (Pg 5). I still think that forty years later, the novel still possess that element of timeliness because no one will ever forget about what happened. Capote makes the novel interesting enough for the reader to remember it for another forty years to come.
March 17, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Brooklynn Tindall
Comment # 2
I also agree with Becky that Capote creates that sense of timelinessin this novel. For example Capote creates that sense of the small town of Holcomb as peaceful, and completly off the map. The events that occur in the town are everyday occurences, and nothing special ever happens here. Although even since the novel was published years after the murder of the Clutters the novel still holds that timeliness. Like Becky stated the town always has non stop drama yet nobody ever heard of it. Although since the novel was not out in public till after the mureders some people may have not gotten the feeling of the time that the evets actually occurred.
March 17, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Brooklynn Tindall
Article # 2
Read and respond to one of the articles on this fascinating website: http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/. If you find another website or article about Capote or In Cold Blood, you may use that as well.
Witness to execution
Prison director Charles McAtee recalls killers
After reading the article about Charles Mcatee witnessing the executions of Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith pened the eyes of Mr. Mcatee and myself. He states “that the case has changed his life and made him a living link to history, an experience he feels obligated to share.” Capote was the original man that was chosen to follow the men on the day of their executions but he felt as if he couldn’t bare the moment. McAtee staets that he got to know the true humans behind the murderers of the Clutter family. I on the other hand can’t believe that he could actually thought of these two men as people. After all they did purposely murder four innocent members of the beloved Clutters. In my eyes any person who can kill has no heart. For example, McAtee states “”Their letters really hit me,” also the two convicts on death row begged for radios in their cells. However the officers refused it, but Mcatee let them get the radios anyways. It states “I couldn’t live without music, and the thought occurred to me that these guys had been over there since the early ’60s, and to have never heard music?” To me music is a privelge and these two men deserve the upmost worst treatement. If they want to hear music maybe they shouldn’t of killed a family. This article made me angry that he would treat to killers as if they were normal citizens. However McAtee does show that he had compassion for the killers in their final hour, and also he states “They’re standing around the penitentiary with their candlelight vigil, mourning the poor soul of the inmate, but they’ve forgotten the victim,”. This shows that he views them as a normal human, and even if they killed a family they do have some sense of feelings.
March 23, 2010 at 1:25 am
Delia Ostojich
I see where you are coming from. If those two were in my jail, they wouldn’t even be allowed to breathe. I can’t believe that Mcatee thought of the two killers as normal human beings. They murdered an innocent family!! Just because they’re on death row doesn’t mean they have to get everything they ask for, like the radios. I understand that they do have feelings, and that they are about to die, but come on now, they shouldn’t have done the crime if they can’t face up to the punishment. This article would make me mad too.
March 26, 2010 at 1:51 am
Christina Mathis
Comment #3
I agree with Brooklynn, that criminals on death row shouldn’t be graced with privileges; privileges of radio, television, food, shelter, clothing, anything that could remotely provide comfort. Why are they charged with the death penalty in the first place? Because they KILLED someone! Death row criminals shouldn’t even be given the courtesy to use a toilet.
Why does the United States justice system even consist of a ‘death row’? There is no logical explanation for it. The only thing accomplished by delaying a death penalty execution is the wasting of taxpayers’ money and the air the criminals are breathing. I’ve heard of malicious murders-psychopathic, insaneous killers-sitting on death row for 10, 20, even 30 years! (In some cases it’s even longer). I just don’t understand it. In my opinion, once the verdict has been reached, the life should be ended. It would save a lot of time, money, and frustration.
March 18, 2010 at 12:45 am
Delia Ostojich
Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
“The local accent is barbed with a prairie twang, a ranch-hand nasalness…” (1). From the very beginning Capote starts off by describing your average, out west prairie town. “…with its hard blue skies and desert clear air, [it] has an atmosphere that is rather more Far West than Middle West” (1). If these images don’t paint the picture for you, Capote throws in a plethora of imagery about the rundown area making it appear as a ghost town; “Nearby is another building with an irrelevant sigh, this one flaking gold on a dirty window” (2). He uses these descriptions to help you understand that Holcomb is nothing special; in fact, it’s no where close to being considered special. The newest attraction that they are proud of is their school. When farming is not enough to hold people over, they take on exporting natural gas to bring in a couple extra dollars. So it’s not a real big town, only a couple hundred people, who mind their own business and they all get along with each other. It is not until the horrible occurrence, that they look at neighbors as strangers. Unlike a normal small town, Holcomb citizens are content with keeping their people and business to themselves. It seems that they really do not want change and that every one is in their place. Even though Kansas is a rough terrain to live on, Carteret County seems to be more updated or modernized than Holcomb, less farms and more social activity. Capote uses comparison to show that even though you may think that towns are totally not alike, similarities can be brought out in tough situations. He builds up major suspense by passing Holcomb off as just an average town where nothing can go wrong, when surprise, surprise, it does.
March 23, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s 2nd comment
By describing Holcomb in vivid detail, you can picture the small Kansas town referred to as “out there” (1). However, you never imagine the horrifying crime that is about to take place in this town of “two hundred and seventy” (3). I agree with Delia when she mentions that Capote has an excellent way of creating suspense by not preluding to what is about to come. In a town that “few Americans – in fact, few Kansans – had ever heard of…” (3), Capote retells the tragedy that shocked a nation.
March 18, 2010 at 3:34 am
Amanda Piland
Article 1
Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
In the novel, “In Cold Blood,” Holcomb, Kansas is described as “out there.” “Some seventy miles east of the Colorado border, the countryside, with its hard blue skies adn desert-clear air, has an atmosphere that is rather more Far West than Middle West” (3). Its isolated location and small population makes Holcomb a very closed community. basically, an aimless array of buildings surrounded by farmland make up the entire town. Holcomb has the appearance of your average, western prarie town just like the majority of small towns in Carteret County and all of Kansas. This being stated, I believe that Capote spends so much time grinding out every detail of the physical appearance of Holcomb simply to add to the shock factor of such harsh crimes that will be committed. If Capote described the future scene of a brutal murder as a dark place, where no one is friendly, and crime is never thought of as out of the ordinary than we would see obvious foreshadowing and the story would be less dramatic. But, since Holcomb is described as nothing outstanding and an “All American” town, us, as readers, never have the thought of murder or any other unthinkable crimes in our head.
March 22, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Casey Martin
Comment 2
I like you reasoning for the description of Holcomb. I agree with you about the story being less dramatic had Holcomb had been described as a dark place; the crime would have been more expected. In regards to the shock factor to Holcomb from the crimes committed there; it also justifies the shock of the small town receiving so much attention.
March 22, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Bailee Pearce
Comment #3
I love love love Amandas resoning to why she thinks the author spends so much time describing the town. I do have to say that I think that He aslo describes it so much to make the story dramatic though. I disagree with fact that if the story was in different setting that it would be less dramatic. It’s a murder and mureders are very dramatic. But overall i agreed with the reasoning of this article.
March 23, 2010 at 1:21 am
Delia Ostojich
I absoltutely agree with Amanda. If Capote just described Holcomb as a cracked out town, we really wouldn’t be shocked when a murder happened. He does spend a lot of time describing the “simple town” to add that shock factor that gets your brain thinking.
March 22, 2010 at 1:05 am
Taylor Craig
“GenreCapote is credited with originating the “nonfiction novel” with In Cold Blood. What is the nonfiction novel, and how is its creation significant? Be sure to cite your sources for this question.”
The dictionary defines a nonfiction novel as “a factual or historical narrative written in the form of a novel.” It is a story of actual people and actual events but told with the same dramatic techniques as a novel. Truman Capote is credited with the creation of the original “nonfiction novel” with In Cold Blood; the true story of a brutal murder of an upstanding family in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. The book is based on years of research and interviews with neighbors and friends of the victims and the murders (whom are now captured). The book is told from multiple points of views yet it extremely objective. “In Cold Blood is remarkable for its objectivity–nowhere, despite his involvement, does the author intrude,” (Plimpton, 1996). Capote was very careful to not choose sides or allude to his own opinion in any way.
Capote’s goal was to change the image of nonfiction work, which was typically a report of facts, and instead turn those facts into something interesting and maybe even suspenseful. The use of drama in a non-fiction book was rare but Capote managed to break down the barrier between a novel and a nonfiction work to create the “nonfiction novel.” A literary genre which depicts real events with factually correct information but narrated with techniques of fiction
“nonfiction novel.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 21 Mar. 2010 .
PLIMPTON, GEORGE. “The Story Behind a Nonfiction Novel.” The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., 16 Jan. 1966. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. .
“”In Cold Blood,” Capote’s New Non-Fiction “Novel.”.” Suite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers’ Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. .
March 22, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Rebecca:)
“What techniques does Capote use to characterize the killers? Does he make you feel sympathetic toward Dick or Perry?”
Capote tends to describe Dick and Perry in a more casual format. He doesn’t say “Perry was like this” or “Dick was like that”. The author instead slips in details about their physical and emotional states in places where the reader doesn’t really realize they are there. This, I believe, helps to form the character in the readers own way instead of Capote telling the reader specifically “The killers HAVE to look like this!” This flexibility is key in the characterization of the characters. “Blue-furred, orange-eyed, red-fanged, a tiger snarled upon his left biceps; a spitting snake coiled around a dagger, slithered down his arm; and elsewhere skulls gleamed, a tombstone loomed, a chrysanthemum flourished”(pg. 32), Capote uses these descriptions to show how tough Perry is although he has all the problems with his body, like his “chunky, dwarfish legs” (31). By making Perry and Dick seem like “normal” guys, Capote can tend to tug the reader’s heartstrings in the killers favor. Do I feel sorry for them? Personally, I do. I feel for all of those “normal” people out there who just SNAP. But in all fairness, just because everyone could snap, doesn’t mean that they do. Everyone can control their own actions; though, in Perry’s case, with his family troubles and physical disability, in reading the novel I felt my heart reach out to him. Someone with that much baggage always gets to me for some odd reason. Dick was a whole other story. He was pretty much a greedy, lying, stupid man. He deceived his poor, innocent parents and used Perry for all he was worth. The fact that both of the men pondered killing eachother shows just how much they genuinly disliked each other.
March 26, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Tyler Brown
I agree with Rebecca. Capote constantly uses vague details and examples to effectively describe the killers, while not putting restrictions on their characteristics. For example, on page 90, Dick has a completely different outlook on what happened then Perry. Dick is ecstatic, and chowing down on constant waves of food, but Perry has completely lost his appetite. Capote doesn’t necessarily give exact details, but demonstrates parts of their personalities and emotions.
March 22, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Rebecca:)
Who is Francois Villon? From what text are the four lines borrowed? Find at least 2 translations of these lines. Which one of the two do you prefer? Why? Why does Capote use these specific lines, from this specific poet, for this book?
Whatever you call him; whether it be François de Montcorbier, François Des Loges, or simply François Villon, you are still speaking of the same thief, vagabond, and most famously French poet. Villon was born in Paris in 1431 in poverty. He lost his father at a young age, but his mother lived until he was at least thirty. Villon led a reckless life, with many encounters with the law. He became an art student and eventually gained his master’s degree in the subject in 1452. Villon killed a man in a scuffle, but it was determined a case of self-defense, and he was forgiven. The work that is generally labeled as his best work was “Le grand testament”, which includes a poem entitled “Ballade des dames du temps jadis” (“The Ballad of Yesterday’s Belles”). In this poem Villon asks of the fate of many celebrated women. In the prologue of In Cold Blood, Capote includes a stanza of a poem from Villon called “Ballade des pendus” (“Ballad of the Hanged”) . This poem is written in French, and appears like this:
Frères humains qui après nous vivez,
N’ayez les cuers contre nous endurcis,
Car, se pitié de nous povres avez,
Dieu en aura plus tost de vous mercis.
One translation of this piece appears like this:
O Brother men who live, though we are gone,
Let not your hearts be hardened at the view,
For if you pity us you gaze upon,
God is more like to show you mercy too.
A second translation appears this way:
Brothers that live when we are dead,
don’t set yourself against us too.
If you could pity us instead,
then God may sooner pity you.
I prefer the latter translation. Villon is apparently speaking to the spectators of a hanging. I do not necessarily believe that Villon is the person being hanged here, but I think he is warning those survivors. In this translation I think he is telling those people to not hate the one who was hanged, for this will serve no purpose. You will gain nothing for going against the criminal, but forgiving him will help you. You must forgive to be forgiven. This is what I think this is trying to tell us. It is probably not a coincidence that Villon wrote about this, when he has had encounters with this subject in his past. When Sermaise died as a result of wounds that Villon inflicted him with during a scuffle, he forgave Villon. Villon is almost preaching this deed that Sermaise did him, which granted him a pardon from the banishment that he was given as punishment. Villon, not a model citizen himself, wants others to recognize the power of this forgiveness that he was granted, and pass it on.
March 22, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Casey Martin
Article 2
What techniques does Capote use to characterize the killers? Does he make you feel sympathetic toward Dick or Perry?
Capote characterizes Dick and Perry through their past experiences. When Perry is first introduced you know already that he is a criminal; because he was in Kansas “when only four months ago he had sworn, first to the State Parole Board, then to himself, that he would never set foot within it’s boundaries again” (14). Dick is made out to be a sexually oriented man. He had two wives, his separation with one because he wanted to ““do the right thing” by another lady” (31). Then, while he was in Mexico, he several women for whom he had relations with and promised to marry. The latest being Inez, who “really believed Dick meant to marry her” (147). The most unusual of them is Dick’s attraction to female children. Capote describes a past experience where Dick an d Perry “almost had a fist fight” when Perry had “prevented Dick from a raping a terrified young girl” (202).
Perry is characterized to be a sensitive man at first. The novel repeatedly states of instances where he would cry; “he cries so easily” (182). It is as if Capote makes a false attempt at making you feel sympathetic towards Perry. Though he may be sensitive, Perry was a unpredictable man. To a stranger Perry was someone to sympathize – “he can make you feel sorry for him” (182)- , but those who knew him feared him. Even Dick had a fear for Perry because he could never tell when he was angry (109). Capote reveals Perry as a angry and vengeful man. After the letter to Perry from his sister (that of which angered him), he had told Dick “The only real regret I have – I wish to hell my sister had been in that house” (143).
March 22, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Maya Bateman
I agree that Capote mainly characterizes the killers by showing their past experienences because throughout the book he is flashingback to different years of their lives, like there childhood. However I dont think that Capote is making a falso attempt to get people to sympathetic towards Perry because Capote makes an extreme effort to show what Perry has been through to make the reader show how difficult his life has been from split parents and no dad to an alchoholic mom who died, to abusive orphanages and homes to 2 of his siblings tragically commiting suicide, and even as an adult he struggled with all this tradgedy that surround his life. You can’t help but feel sorry atleast for the child who had to grow up like that, and now an adult who had to struggle with all those experiences, even though he may be angry as an adult as a result of the sympathy Capote brings out from the readers he brings out understanding for why he is an angry and hurt individual.
March 22, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Maya Bateman
Maya Bateman- Comment 2 (repost forgot to put name)
I agree that Capote mainly characterizes the killers by showing their past experienences because throughout the book he is flashingback to different years of their lives, like there childhood. However I dont think that Capote is making a falso attempt to get people to sympathetic towards Perry because Capote makes an extreme effort to show what Perry has been through to make the reader show how difficult his life has been from split parents and no dad to an alchoholic mom who died, to abusive orphanages and homes to 2 of his siblings tragically commiting suicide, and even as an adult he struggled with all this tradgedy that surround his life. You can’t help but feel sorry atleast for the child who had to grow up like that, and now an adult who had to struggle with all those experiences, even though he may be angry as an adult as a result of the sympathy Capote brings out from the readers he brings out understanding for why he is an angry and hurt individual.
March 24, 2010 at 12:19 am
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s 3rd comment
I agree with Casey when she says that Capote originally makes up feel sympathy towards Dick and Perry from the beginning of the novel. Capote describes Dick’s tattoos, and through the “blue rose…the word PEACE accompanied by a cross…a bouquet of flowers dedicated to MOTHER-DAD” (30) you can imagine Dick as a gentle and loving son that has a sweet, sensitive side. Perry, the survivor of a motorcycle accident that had left his legs “broken in five places and pitifully scarred” (31) was trying to make the best of his traumatic childhood. But much later, when Perry is recounting the events of that night, you see the true nature of these criminals. Dick’s greedy, sexual desire found in the statement, “I’m gonna bust that little girl” (243) (in referance to Nancy) and Perry’s secret wish, “I decided I’d better shoot Dick… got in the car and kept on going till I lost myself in Mexico” (245), clue you in that your sympathy was wasted on heartless murderers.
March 22, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Casey Martin
Article 3
Capote recounts the story in a certain order, beginning with the day of the murder, and proceeding to the discovery of the bodies, the investigation of the crime and capture of the criminals, and the trial and execution. At what point does Capote depict the murder scene? How does he work Perry’s and Dick’s backgrounds into the narrative? Think of alternative plot structures that Capote could have used, and analyze why you think Capote structures the events as he does
Capote first depicts the murder scene on page 62, starting with Nancy and ended on page 65 with Mr. Clutter. Later on Floyd Wells is introduced as he is listening on the radio to the story of the Clutter murder. This both reveals a part of Dick’s past and adds to the story. Without knowing that Wells “knew very well who had murder them” (160) and why he knew, we wouldn’t know that part Dick’s past. Capote also works in parts of Dick’s past by what Wells had said that Dick told them. Like him being a trained car mechanic and an ambulance driver (161).
Capote’s other possible plot structure could have been through one point of view instead of two. In “In Cold Blood”, Capote uses the point of view of the murderer’s side and the law’s side. He alternates between each events to create a sense of suspense and dramatic irony on the capture of Dick and Perry. I.e., Al Dewey gets a call that the criminals were arrested in Las Vegas (212) and the next chapter describes a police car following Dick and Perry (215) after we know what is going to happen.
March 22, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Bailee Pearce
Article #2
Read and respond to one of the articles on this fascinating website:
http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/. Archive for Sunday, April 3, 2005
Relations between media and law enforcement have changed since 1959
In this article the topic is about letting the media go into the scene of the crime. back when the Clutter family was murdered the media was able to go and explore the crime scene. One media person, named Jewell ,from back when the Clutter family was murdered go to go and view the crime scene. He describes how gruesome the sight was and how he and the sheriff’s department used to be friends. He sates ” I don’t know what happened.” (Jewell) The article then goes on to explain that the sheriffs’ departments relationship with the media changed over the years. They used to be friends and now they are not. The article states that “The kind of relationship between cops and the media might seem odd today, as trust waned on both sides.” (Jewell) Things just are not like they used to be anymore.
Another reason the mentioned in the article as to why the police don’t like the media on the crime scene is because they believe that they will mess up the crime scene and ruin the evidence. This is a very good reason to not let them on the crime scene. If the crime scene is ruined then how are they supposed to solve the murder? They might have messed up the key evidence as to who killed these people or who robbed this place. I really wouldn’t trust the media on the crime scene if I know that there is such a risk to it.
March 25, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Shelby Coleman
Comment #2
I don’t believe that the media should ever be allowed at a new crime scene. Sometimes cases, such as the Clutter case, are dependent on keeping the investigation secretive. They couldn’t just tell the whole world that they suspected Dick and Perry, otherwise the killers could find out and hide more thoroughly. The media, however, don’t tend to think about these consequences and are only interested in getting the scoop. Having the media in the middle of an investigation just puts the success of it in jeopardy. It is good that they are not allowed on the scenes anymore.
March 22, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Bailee Pearce
Article #3
Syntax: Capote is known for his elaborate sentence structure and use of parallelism. Pick a paragraph in which Capote’s syntax is especially impressive and write an analysis explaining why his sentence structure is effective.
Capote uses great syntax throughout the novel In Cold Blood. There are many of these paragraphs throughout the book but the one that I love the most is on page 105. It says ” A belief in God and the rituals surrounding that belief- church every Sunday, grace before meals, prayers before bed- were a important part of the Dewey’s existence.’ I don’t see how anyone can sit down to table without wanting to bless it,’ Mrs. Dewey once said. ‘ Sometimes, when i come home from work-well, I’m tired. But there’s always coffee on the stove, and sometimes a steak in the ice box. The boys make fire to cook the steak, and we talk , and tell each other our day, and by the time supper ready I know we have good cause to be happy and grateful. so I say, Thank you, Lord. not just because I should-because I want to.’ ” (105) This paragraph helps me to know that the Dewey family is a happy family and it makes me happy to know that they have God in their life. People in this town can still be happy after all that has happened because they know that they are blessed. This Family believes in God’s grace, and they believe that God can provide. He provided their meals and their needs, so He can supply the peace that is needed at this moment in the town. They, the people of Holcomb, need the reassurance that everything is going to be alright. And to know that He is with them and giving them grace and providing for them might help these people to have that assurance that everything is going to be alright and that they can put some of these matters in to God’s hands. This paragraph is so reassuring because this family is still wanting to give God the glory for the things He has blessed them with. It is an uplifting paragraph to me and I love the way it is constructed and where it fits into the novel.
March 23, 2010 at 12:09 am
Briana Lech
Briana Lech
Article 2
Capote is credited with originating the “nonfiction novel” with In Cold Blood. What is the nonfiction novel, and how is its creation significant? Be sure to cite your sources for this question.
A narrative dealing with real events and people, written in the form of a novel is the dictionary’s definition of a nonfiction novel. In Cold Blood, written by Truman Capote is credited with being the first nonfiction work. Capote did something that was unheard of at the time; he wrote an accurate, timely, and objective piece regarding the murders of the Clutter family. He interviewed people of Holcomb, Kansas, the detectives and even the murderers. Capote’s creation of the nonfiction novel is significant to the world of literature; he paved the way for other authors to cover historical and other events without using bias and opinions to cloud the actual story. Capote does this beautifully in In Cold Blood; he gives us the facts but uses many literary techniques which make this novel a captivating, timeless piece.
“Nonfiction Novel | Define Nonfiction Novel at Dictionary.com.” Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Houghton Mifflin Company. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. .
March 23, 2010 at 1:09 am
Ashley Alvarez
Ashley Alvarez
6th period
Article #2
Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone? You must use evidence from the book to support your answer; you may use outside resources as well, as long as you provide appropriate citations in MLA format.
I do believe that Dick and Perry both deserve the death penalty. For people to go through that much to kill an innocent family they must be cold hearted and outright evil! They traveled over 800 miles to kill the Clutters. Not only did they kill them but they went back home to their families as if nothing had happened. “Dick was consuming a Sunday dinner… He arrived at noon, kissed his mother, readily replied to questions his father put concerning his supposed overnight trip to Fort Scott, and sat down to eat, seeming his ordinary self”(73). He didn’t even feel guilty! The way they carefully planned out the murders was also very disturbing. “…the sheriff looked around to see if he could find the discharged cartridge. But whoever had done it was much too smart and cool to have left behind any clues like that” (63). Knowing that they took the time to pick up each cartridge after they shot the Clutters, and that they made sure not to leave any clues is what makes this so startling. They would reassure each other saying “I promise you honey, we’ll blast hair all over them walls” (22). Dick and Perry were two very psychotic people who deserve the death penalty. If Perry could “…describe a murder, telling how, simply for “the hell of it,” he had killed a colored man….” (54), how could we be so sure that they wouldn’t do it again?
March 25, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Ashley Hero
Comment #2
While I agree that they deserved the death penalty, I wouldn’t go so far as to call them “outright evil.” It’s very true that they have grains of evil (because to ruthlessly kill a family that has done nothing to you is most certainly considered “evil”) but from their actions throughout, I think they simply were insane in a slight degree. Mentally unstable. Perry had “killed a colored man” “for the hell of it”(54). Dick was obviously somewhat off the deep end, going so far as to “woo” Perry, and “exploit his gift” for killing (55).
March 23, 2010 at 1:11 am
Ashley Alvarez
Ashley Alvarez
6th period
Article 3
How does Capote build suspense despite the fact that readers know the ultimate outcome from the beginning of In Cold Blood?
Capote builds suspense by dragging on the journey Dick and Perry make and explaining the Clutters final days. Because he goes into so much details about what Dick and Perry did on their 800 mile trip and all their stops you just want the poor Clutters to be warned. As the reader you feel as if you can somehow warn them and get them out of harm’s way. Capote explains what the Clutters were doing in their final hours and since you know what’s to come, you must keep reading. By the time the murderers made their last stop you want the final outcome of the murders already revealed. “Dick had said they were almost there- “only seven miles more.””(53) Another way he kept the suspense was Nancy’s last diary entry. “Jolene K. came over and I showed her to make a cherry pie. Practice with Roxie, Bobby here and we watched TV. Left at eleven.” (57). This final entry is the last thing you hear from the Clutters. You can’t help but wonder what was going through her mind after her last entry. What was she thinking while she was being murdered? Since Capote goes from Nancy’s last entry, to the murderers arriving at Holcomb, and then her friend discovering the bodies it keeps the wondering going. He keeps you in suspense because as you read you want him to explain exactly how the murders took place yet he is vague about what happened to each family member. It is only through the police theories from the investigation that the reader can piece together what must have occurred that horrible night.
March 25, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Kelsey Alyea
I had never thought about this subject particularly, but after I read the first sentence, I had an automatic epihany. I completely agree Ashley. When reading the novel, It seemed like it took forever to actually to get the murder and everything seemed so obsolete. But once you put in into perspective, Capote was just trying to get us to understand every event and why it happened. Bravo Truman Capote.
March 25, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Kelsey Alyea
Daggum!!! Comment #3 Mrs.Taylor…Sorry!!!
March 23, 2010 at 1:15 am
Delia Ostojich
Article 2
High school sweetheart recalls the day his life changed forever:
“You read about this stuff. It doesn’t happen here. Not in Holcomb.” Reading Bobby Rupp’s testimony of the accident is absolutely astonishing. I still am awestruck by what he went through. You always wonder, “what if” this happens of “what if” that happens, “how would I react?”, “oh ill be a hero”. Everyone is so sure of how they’ll react in an emergency, but let the truth be told in this story, you truly don’t know. Bobby said himself that he felt weird being the last to see the family alive and that he really couldn’t believe that it happened. For him to not lose his temper and try and find the guys who did it, like most men these days would, took an immense amount of strength. I honestly don’t blame him for not wanting to talk about or share the horrifying event with any news reporters. What makes me wonder is, the Rupp family makes a remark about how Capote gets one specific event wrong. Why hasn’t anyone told him? This story really just made me think about, just like the quote I opened with states, anything is capable of happening anywhere. It’s just a matter of whom, when, and where. Also, I find it interesting about how Rupp’s wife isn’t offended by him talking about how amazing Nancy was, or about how they spent everyday together. Even to this day, the Rupp’s, place flowers over Nancy’s grave. This is a really sweet gesture and it also reminds them to never forget. Bobby Rupp always has those “what if” thoughts, but he reminds himself everyday that “the past is the past, I can’t change anything now”.
March 23, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Briana Lech
Briana Lech
Article 3
“Which is more important: nature or nurture? You must use evidence from the book to support your answer; you may use outside resources as well, as long as you provide appropriate citations in MLA format.”
In my personal opinion, nature and nurture both play a significant role in determining your personality and overall outcome of life; Dick and Perry are the perfect example to support this statement. Perry came from a broken home, no mother figure, a father who could be verbally abusive and manipulative, but Capote emphasized how intelligent, soft-spoken, and almost docile-like Perry was. “I liked to read, too. Improve my vocabulary. Make up songs… But I never got any encouragement” (133). The reader can deduce that Perry was given a “natural” ability since he was younger for learning, but the “nurture” aspect was lacking in his life.
On the other hand, Dick was the complete opposite. He grew up in a close family, played sports and had more social skills than his partner. Academically Dick Hickock just didn’t succeed; but Dick had one thing Perry didn’t…support from his family. “We got along O.K- no serious arguments. My parents never argued, either. I can’t recall a single quarrel” (218). Ultimately, Dick had a rather decent childhood.
Both men equally took part in the crime of murdering the Clutter family, which the reader can infer that nature and nurture both play an equal role in development. Dick had positive nurturing, Perry did not; Perry was more influenced by nature more so than Dick. But together both men committed a heinous act of violence. If they would have been brought up with an equal balance of nature and nurture, their lives probably would have turned out differently.
March 23, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Shelby Coleman
Article 2
Topic: Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone?
I understand the animosity everyone feels towards these two men, but the whole idea that they had in mind when condemning them to death was ‘a life for a life’. If you take a life, yours in turn should be taken. Based on this I believe that Dick should not have been sentenced to the death penalty as Perry should have been, for Dick never actually killed anyone in the Clutter house. He is obviously deranged and sick in that he could go on living after the ordeal with basically no regrets. There is absolutely no doubt that he deserved life imprisonment, but he received the same punishment as Perry- a man who took four human lives. Like Dick said when he was conversing with Lowell Lee Andrews, “There are four killers up here and one railroad man. I’m no goddam killer. I never touched a hair on a human head” (325). I personally feel just as much hatred towards Dick as towards Perry, but the truth is that though he planned the whole ordeal up and talked a big game, when it came down to actually doing the dirty deed he couldn’t bring himself to kill. There is no question that someone deserved to pay for the deaths of the Clutter family, but in my opinion it should have been the man who ruthlessly pulled the trigger and wielded the knife.
March 24, 2010 at 1:34 am
Patience Paul
Patience Paul – Comment #2 ::::
I agree with Shelby on the point that Dick didn’t deserve the death penalty. However, to qualify, I don’t believe Perry really did either. I figure back in the sixties, when this all set place, they didn’t have so many exemptions to execution. Today however, murders can claim insanity and then live the rest of their lives drugged out and in therapy. I’m not saying it’s fair, but with a mind set in today’s advancements, I can’t help but be ABSOLUTELY SURE that if Dick and Perry were trialed in court TODAY for the same thing, they would be in a clinic, not dead.
March 24, 2010 at 1:55 am
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s extra credit comment #1
I agree that Perry definitely should recieve the death penalty for murdering four people…. but without Dick, it never would have happened. “The mood I was in, I let myself be carried along” (234). Perry had just gotten off on parole and only wanted to skin dive in Mexico for buried treasure, and had, in connection with Kansas, “sworn… he would never set foot within its boundaries again” (14). Perry had no idea who the Clutter family was, and had it not been for Dick and his “perfect score” (14), they would have lived on in peace and the country would have never known this tragedy. I personally believe they both got what they deserved.
March 23, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s 3rd article
“High school sweetheart recalls the day his life changed forever”
I found this article about the interview with Bobby Rupp to be extremely interesting and heart wrenching. Now, 45 years later, Rupp decides to participate in an interview about the “day that his changed forever” … the day he found out his high school sweetheart and three of her family members had been murdered in cold blood. As he sits down at the kitchen table with reporter Melissa Lee and wife Coleen Rupp, he seems calm and serenely collected. But when it comes to Nancy, he speaks in “a voice that’s a hint thicker” and with hands firmly clasped together on the table. There were years that Bob “thought about it every day”… how his life could have been different, why this happened to such good people, the “what-ifs”. But not anymore; a husband of 41 years, a father of four, and a grandfather have kept him busy and focused. He joined the community center board of directors and farmed alfalfa wheat his whole life. He got his children involved in 4-H and taught them what he valued most in life: “integrity, honesty, dedication”. But the tragedy still comes to mind occasionally.
This article was touching because you can picture a 61-year-old man, sitting at his kitchen table in a “navy plaid shirt and dark jeans” beside his supportive and loving wife of 41 years. But you can also imagine a young, scared and heartbroken 16-year-old boy who had to be a “pall bearer for Nancy at the funeral”… the young, pretty girl with “brown hair… sparkling eyes… and a wide, girlish smile”. Even “four decades” can’t erase his pain, but he does believe that time has eased “the deepest of scars”. And with the idea that he is somewhat like his “second father” Herb Clutter, a smile comes to his quiet and reserved face… and “for just a second Bobby Rupp laughs outright”.
March 23, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Kelsey Alyea
Article #2
Read and respond to one of the articles on this fascinating website: http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/. If you find another website or article about Capote or In Cold Blood, you may use that as well.
Article: ‘To Kill A Mockingbid’ Author helped Truman Capote break the ice in Kasas
“For Jack Dunphy and Harper Lee, with my love and gratitude,” Truman Capote states before his unforgettable In Cold Blood novel. The bond between Lee and Capote seems to be one like super glue and duct tape. Both of them assisting with the others novels, they make quite a pair. While Capote received much criticism, he was mostly accepted due to the fact he was so close with Lee. “…Agent Harold Nye attacks Capote for his attitude and tendency to wear feminine clothes, yet describes Lee as an “Absolutely fantastic lady”,”(Wiebe http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/apr/03/to_kill_a/) .
The two authors have an interesting relationship but definitely get the job done, and done well. While reading about a murder of a family you come to love isn’t the most appealing of stories…it has an amazing insight for detail. Research must have been absolutely rare to come across, but Lee helped out with that. “Suring her two months with him, Lee helped Capote make important alliances within the region” (Wiebe http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/apr/03/to_kill_a/).
These two are a force to be reckoned with. While Lee’s Book, To Kill A Mockingbird, became more of what some would call a success, In Cold Blood was so in-depth it made me feel as if I was in Holcomb, Kansas watching the events toll out one by one. They each had completely different style and personalities but that’s what makes them such a powerful team.
March 24, 2010 at 12:51 am
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s extra credit article #1
“What is the effect of the author’s use of montage (repeatedly switching back-and-forth between Holcomb and the approaching killers)?”
Capote’s efficient use of montage builds suspense in the novel and makes it more interesting. By switching from the two men as they approach Holcomb, Kansas to the quiet, peaceful life in Holcomb, Kansas, Capote shows the drastic differences between the characters and their lifestyles. In his bouncing back and forth, Capote always leaves the reader in suspense and on edge- waiting for him to return and continue on the previous subject. Perry, after hours of waiting for Dick outside of a local drugstore in “little Olathe, Kansas” (14), finally sees him approach. But Capote doesn’t directly retell what happens next… instead all he says is “A car horn honked. At last – Dick” (17). He then returns to the Clutter family and you are left waiting for the next leg of Dick and Perry’s journey. Montage also makes the novel more interesting. Before a particular event or situation becomes too boring or detailed, Capote breaks up the timeline and switches settings. The short updates on each group of characters often ends in a suspenseful line, keeping the reader enthralled with Capote’s story. “Dick doused the headlights, slowed down… the car crept forward” (57). Instead of outlining every fact in detail from the beginning to end, Capote skips around and dabbles a little in every setting before bringing them all together for that tragic night. This keeps readers focused and waiting; always looking for a break in the page to signify the return of a specific passage that Capote left with a suspenseful ending.
March 25, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Ashley Alvarez
Ashley Alvarez
Comment # 3
6th period
I hadn’t thought of it that way… as soon as there was a lot of detail and starting to get boring Capote switches settings always keeping you wanting more. It was very interesting to read because it was always changing and made it more fun. Even though you know what’s going to happen you get a very good description of what’s going on with the murderers and the Clutters at the same time.
March 24, 2010 at 1:32 am
Logan Harvey
Logan Harvey’s extra credit article #2
“Brother, friends object to portrayal of Bonnie Clutter by Capote”
“Capote didn’t get it right at all.” From the lips of one of Bonnie Clutter’s closest friends in Holcomb, Kansas, Jean Hands (now 78) revisits memories of the beloved Bonnie before her tragic death. Meeting through the First United Methodist Church in Garden City, Jean and Bonnie had become friends 10 years prior to the murders. “You couldn’t help but like her,” Hands says when describing her best friend. They were both active in the church and their husbands were members of the Kansas co-op. Weekends they would visit museums together or go shopping in Garden City nearby. Hands believes that Capote “went a little overboard” describing the mother of the Clutter family. Yes, she admits that “at the time of her death she was dealing with depression”, but that doesn’t change the love and mourning that she felt at the loss of such a good woman. Another person close to Bonnie that is upset with Capote’s version of her is Bonnie’s younger brother, Howard Fox. Fox insists that Capote’s portrayal of his only sister is “frustratingly one-dimensional”. Bonnie was a “loving wife and mother, active in the church, a caring and compassionate woman”… not an “off-and-on psychiatric patient for the last half-dozen years”. Friends, family, and close neighbors choose not to read “In Cold Blood” because they believe “[Bonnie’s] legacy is forever tainted by the way Truman Capote painted her…” And who knows? Maybe Bonnie’s depression had gotten worst in the past few years and she was “nervous” and “suffering little spells”. Or maybe Capote had received misinformation and Bonnie Clutter wasn’t such an invalid as he made her out to be… I guess no one really knows the truth.
March 24, 2010 at 1:44 am
Patience Paul
Patience Paul. Argumentative (Article #3) “Does anyone deserve the death penalty?
To flat-out state, no, I do NOT believe in the death penalty. And for this reason, I don’t believe either Richard “Dick” Hickock nor Perry Edward Smith deserved to be murdered. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. And when asked on the day of their execution (April 14th, 1965) if they had any last word, Dick replied, “… I think it’s a hell of a thing to take someone’s life like this… I had a lot to offer society…” Whereas Perry’s reply was simply, “I guess not.” That just comes to show that it wasn’t over for Dick, he didn’t murder anybody so he didn’t see why his life was ending. It also shows that Perry was nowhere NEAR in his mind. He should be in a mental asylum, not taken out of existence. Not only did it take 5 and a half years and 4 reprieved execution dates before they finally were murdered, but their capital punishment in Kansas has been described as “Cold, cruel, casual, and impersonal. With an almost total lack of formality, there was no last-mile-walk for the prisoners. each was brought by car into the warehouse and emerged just a few feet away from the gallows’ 13 steps. The trap was sprung with an unsuspected suddenness. The victims reached the end of their ropes with a neck-breaking snap in full view of any of us who wanted to look.” (Garden City Telegraph – Bill Brown). With that said, the term ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ is almost fitting here. A quick silent lethal injection in today’s world is nothing compared to this 15th century style hanging.
March 25, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Kyle Roddenberry
Kyle Roddenberry’s comment #3 on Patience Paul’s Article #3
I see what you are trying to say about the whole “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” thing but they still deserved the death penalty. The whole world would not be “blind” because not everyone is sick and evil like Dick and Perry. What if they would have got out of the
mental asylum or prison and killed someone else, again for no reason?
It could be anybody, your family, my family, you, or me. If you murder someone, you sould be sentenced to the same fate as the individual that you killed. If they would have been put in an asylum or prison for the rest of their lives then why would you not just go ahead and kill them instead of wasting thousands of dollars every year on murders. Dick deserved it too because he helped and knew what was about to happen and did not try to stop it.
March 24, 2010 at 1:52 am
Patience Paul
PATIENCE PAUL (Article #2) Allusions::::
—– In a way, the title itself is an allusion. The use of a title alluding to an idiom is quite clever, seeing how an idiom (word, phrase, or expression that cannot be taken literally), when used in everyday language, can have a witty meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary. The idiom “In Cold Blood” was first recorded in Joseph Addison’s Spectator in 1711. He originally used it as a phrase referring to some act that might look like an act of passion – but which was actually done with cool deliberation. To be specific, saying a person did something ‘in cold blood’ describes a person who did the act in a detached or uninvolved manner An action that was carried out without excitement or emotional involvement was said to have been taken when the ‘blood was cold.’ This so accurately goes into not only the theme of this nonfiction novel, but also right into the Clutter murders. If you do something, especially kill someone, in cold blood, you do it in a way which is cruel because you plan it and do it without emotion. According to the Garden City Telegram on April 14, 1965, Perry Edward Smith and Richard Eugene Hickock commited murder, “As cold as the sheets of steel stacked on the warehouse floor. As casual as the guard leaning against a pile of lumber. As impersonal as the hangman, whose expressions never changed under his broad-brimmed hat. As crude as the very gallows it is excited upon.” With that said, Dick and Perry killed the Clutter family IN COLD BLOOD by being detached and ruthless. Therefore, Capote’s choice of title serves as an allusion all in itself to this idiom, which describes the Clutter family murders to-the-T.
March 24, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Brooklynn Tindall
Brooklynn Tindall
Article # 3
Syntax: Capote is known for his elaborate sentence structure and use of parallelism. Pick a paragraph in which Capote’s syntax is especially impressive and write an analysis explaining why his sentence structure is effective.
Capote is a writer of many styles, and himself knows hoe to present ideas and themes within the novel. Hpwever is elaborate sentence use grabs the reader, and gives them the full impact of what is truly happening in the lives of the people of Holcomb. The paragraph that i like with sentuce strusture is on page 113 . “Thanksgiving passed, and the pheasant season came to a halt, but not the beautiful Indian summer, with its flow of clear, pure days( 113).” The last of the out-of-town left newsmen, convinced that the case was never going to be solved, left Garden City. But the case was by no means closed for the people of Finney County, and least of all for those who patronized Holcomb’s favorite meeting place, Hartman’s Cafe (113).” to me even though this paragraph is short it packs alot of meaning. For example, when it opens up with pheasant season coming to halt it symbolizes how long it has been since the murders have occurred, and alsoi makes the reader think back to the beginning of the novel when it talks about how Mr. Clutter would always let a fellow passer come onto his land and hunt. Also when it talks about how all the newsmen left the town and have given up on the story, it shows that some people don’t truly care about the people just the feed of death. But the main one that grabbed my attention was that the murder was not closed for the people of the county. This shows that the perserverence of these people has kept the Clutters alive to them. They will stop at nothing to solve the murder, so they can finally but the thought of mind that their true friends are gone.
March 24, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Tyler Brown
Article #2
Capote is known for his elaborate sentence structure and use of parallelism. Pick a paragraph in which Capote’s syntax is especially impressive and write an analysis explaining why his sentence structure is effective.
Throughout “In Cold Blood”, Capote uses exhilarating sentence structure to pull you as a reader into the book. He uses such amazing vocabulary and arrangement of words and phrases that you feel as if you are actually observing the events. For example, “The weeks between had been hard on Mr. Helm. He was “in poor health”, and he was worried about a lot of things. His job for one” (page 120). Capote uses a series of elaborately long sentences to lead up to the main point of the paragraph. With this style of writing, the reader has a clear idea of what Capote meant. He also uses vivid and detailed vocabulary to paint the reader a portrait of what is happening. On page 215 Capote illustrates this technique. He says, “The Detective Division of the Las Vegas City Jail contains two interrogation rooms-fluorescent-lighted chambers measuring ten by twelve, with walls and ceilings of Celotex. In each room, in addition to an electric fan, a metal table, and folding metal chairs, there are camouflaged microphones, concealed tape recorders, and, set into the door, a mirrored one-way observation window.” In these two sentences, Capotes illustrates an extremely elaborate style of sentence structure. He could have just as easily said a room with a fan and table, but instead, he goes into detail, even describing what the ceiling is made out of. As you read these sentences, you feel as if you can see the room in plain sight. This is one of the best features of Truman Capote’s writing style.
March 24, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Taylor Webb
Taylor Webb Article #2
A subjective narrator is generally unreliable because he/she is in the story and can only speak to his/her experience within it. An objective narrator is an observer and describes or interprets thoughts, feelings, and motivations of the characters. Details such as setting, scenes and what was said are stronger with an objective observer. The Third Person viewpoint of Truman Capote makes him a more objective narrator in his novel. Truman Capote investigates everything about the event in detail. He made 8000 pages reading and 6 year investigation to write In Cold Blood. In this novel real world and fiction are connected to each others successfully. Capote travelled to Kansas, did interviews, found the detective, and reported last death of the death obsessed criminals. The crime was so vividly re-created with so much imagery. The Clutters are sympathized in the novel. Capote makes the reader hate Dick and Perry, but we can’t hate them. Perry also is shown as a victim in the novel. The last part of the novel is the prison part which is more objective. The reader learns the murderers with their private lives. So the reader is able to see them from different perspectives when he/she learns about their past.
March 24, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Taylor Webb
OOPS!!
The question is Is Capote an objective or subjective narrator? As you explain your answer, be sure to include your definitions of “objective” and “subjective,” as well as ample evidence from the book for support.
MLA Format was missing
Wikepedia is were i got my info about his investigation
March 24, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Taylor Webb
Taylor Webb Article #3
What is the theme of this novel?
In the book “In Cold Blood” Truman Capote uses many different themes. On of which you cansee as soon as you meet Dick and Perry. Homoerotic desire is just below the surface of the relationship between Dick and Perry, between Perry and Willie-Jay, and, more implicitly, in the meta-textual relationship of Truman Capote to his two subjects. Whether or not these attractions were overtly acknowledged or even consciously realized by their subjects (Capote thought it was likely that both men had repressed these feelings), they are a palpable subtext of the narrative and serve several functions. On one level, they elucidate the relationship of Dick and Perry, adding a layer of intensity to their interactions that helps to explain why, for example, they might have become so frustrated at the Clutter home, or why so much of Perry’s self-image rests on Dick’s opinion of him. But the theme of homosexuality also functions as a larger symbol of, and premise for, Dick and Perry’s status as outsiders, social misfits for whom conventional society seems to have no place. At the time that In Cold Blood was penned, homosexuals were considered a threat to the social order, so much so that the F.B.I. kept official watch lists in order to monitor their activities. This unspoken element of their relationship heightens the intensity of their clash with conservative, small-town American life, and raises the stakes of the murder trial by a perceptible margin.
March 24, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Tyler Brown
Article #3
Who is Francois Villon? From what text are the four lines borrowed? Find at least 2 translations of these lines. Which one of the two do you prefer? Why? Why does Capote use these specific lines, from this specific poet, for this book?
Francois Villon was a French Poet born into poverty. He led a wild and loose life in Paris. He had a childhood full of mischief and stealing, spending a big portion of his life in prison. Two of his most famous poems are “Ballade des pendus”, which is used for the prologue, and “Ballade des dames du temps jadis”. The lines used in the prologue are from “Ballade des pendus”, which can be translated to say “Fellow humans living after we have gone, do not be impervious to us, rather, take pity on poor us, God shall have more thanks to you.” It can also be translated to say “Human brothers who live after us, do not have your hearts hardened against us, for, if you take pity on us poor fellows, God will sooner have mercy on you.”I personally prefer the second translation to the first one. The second translation is a lot more modern and more understandable. I believe that Truman Capote chose this part of this specific writing because Dick and Perry could probably relate to the author of “Ballade des pendus” . They too led a life much like that of Francois Villon. You could truly imagine these thoughts going through Dick and Perry’s mind. “Do not have your hearts hardened against us”. So many people had their hearts hardened to Dick and Perry, and all they could want is mercy.
March 24, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Kyle Roddenberry
Kyle Roddenberry Article #2
Who is Francois Villon? From what text are the four lines borrowed? Find at least 2 translations of these lines. Which one of the two do you prefer? Why? Why does Capote use these specific lines, from this specific poet, for this book?
Francois Villon was a French poet, thief, and vagabond. Villon was born in 1431, in Paris. He is most famous for his works the Testaments and his Ballade des Pendus, which he wrote while in prison. Capote uses an excerpt from Villon’s Ballad of The Gibbet in In Cold Blood’s prologue. I think that he uses it because it kind of relates, because he wants to make a point to show us that we need to have mercy on people for things to get mercy, basically you have to give to get. In addition to that the poet is known to have killed a person and was in and out of prison just like Dick and Perry so he relates to them. The excerpt goes as the following:
Frères humains qui après nous vivez,
N’ayez les cuers contre nous endurcis,
Car, se pitié de nous povres avez,
Dieu en aura plus tost de vous mercis.
The two translations that I have found say this:
Human brothers who live after us
Don’t have your hearts towards us hardened
Because, if pity of poor us you have
God will sooner have mercy on you
AND
Brothers that live when we are dead,
don’t set yourself against us too.
If you could pity us instead,
then God may sooner pity you.
I like the second one because it makes more sense and it sounds better than the first.
March 24, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Kyle Roddenberry
Kyle Roddenberry Article #3
Truman Capote said “timeliness” was important to writing great journalism. He said, “You want to be reasonably certain that the material not soon date.” Forty years after In Cold Blood’s first publication, does the book still possess an element of “timeliness”?
In Cold Blood is a very timely book. Although it is forty-four years later the book still retains all of the same qualities that it had when it first came out in 1966 which was based on the actual murders that happened in 1959. It is the type of book that can be read and reread over the years and still has a sense of timeliness about it. If I was not told that it was written in the sixties I would have thought that it had happened recently. He wrote at a good time when everybody that knew about it still had the details and could give the book it’s movie like qualities. He wrote it at a very opportune time. This book has been going strong for the last forty-four years and I think will continue to thrive. It has the potential to be a great classic similar to Shakespeare.
March 24, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Shelby Coleman
Article #3
Topic: Capote carefully depicts the personalities of secondary characters, such as Al Dewey. Why do you think he does this and what do these detailed portraits add to the book? Which of the secondary characters do you find most memorable and why?
I believe Capote develops all of the less significant characters in order to reveal or relate something to the main characters. When he talks about Willie-Jay he reveals things about Perry such as his near inability to make friends; and when he does, he gets extremely attached to them. When Capote describes Mrs. Bess Hartman the reader learns about the public opinions of the Clutters and their deaths. These detailed portraits add a much wider view and a more complete understanding of the events.
One of the secondary characters that I found particularly memorable was Susan Kidwell. At first I wasn’t sure why Capote described her so thoroughly. He even refers to her at the end of the novel, indicating that there is something about her he wants us to acknowledge. Then it occurred to me that Susan represents everything that Nancy could have, and should have been. She and Nancy had so many plans and while Sue got to live them out and grow into a beautiful and happy girl, Nancy didn’t get the chance. Sue reminisces on this fact as she visits the Clutter’s grave. “I’m really happy. 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” (342). Al Dewey mentions the similarities between the two girls as well. “…a pretty girl in a hurry, her smooth hair swinging, shining—just such a young woman as Nancy might have been” (343). Sue is a constant, yet subtle reminder throughout the book of what Nancy Clutter could have been.
March 25, 2010 at 1:15 am
Kelsey Alyea
Article #3
Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone? You must use evidence from the book to support your answer; you may use outside resources as well, as long as you provide appropriate citations in MLA format.
In this great country of America, when a crime is committed there is a punishment. Whether it be theft or all the way up to murder. Now most of the controversy is about how and when someone should be punished, such as in the case of Dick and Perry in the novel In Cold Blood. These two men were part of a violent crime where 4 members of a family were cruelly murdered. While my first reaction is to have them executed, there are other factors to put into play. For one, I believe a life sentence in jail is much harsher than receiving the death penalty straight-up. When you put someone through so much torture and expect to just get away with it… you must be insane. You deserve to go through every single pain, ache, and struggle they had to deal with… just in a different manner. On the same wave length, “Prisons are important to the economy of Leavenworth County, Kansas” (309). So it sounds to me as if, the more prisoners that you have… the more money you would make. Why not help the economy at the same time?
So yes, I believe that they and everyone who commits an intentional murder deserve a death penalty. Just not immediately.
March 25, 2010 at 2:17 am
Josh Dismuke
I am gonna have to disagree with you, at least part of it. While I agree that Dick and Perry deserve the death penalty,I believe that they should be put to death fairly quickly. It doesn’t make sense to wait, it is kinda like if you were a parent and your kid did something wrong you wouldn’t wait until a week later to punish them for it.
March 25, 2010 at 1:42 am
Taylor Craig
Read and respond to one of the articles on this fascinating website: http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/. If you find another website or article about Capote or In Cold Blood, you may use that as well.
Reading the article written about Bob Rupp, Nancy Clutter’s high school boyfriend, really makes the murder that much more realistic. As a reader, even though I know this is a true story it still feels unreal. Its hard to come to terms with the fact that heinous crimes actually do exist, as do the people that commit them. Throughout our days we hear of tragic stories of murders and kidnappings on the news- they happen everyday. They happen to an unsuspecting girl walking home from school, or a content mother home from taking her kids to school, or a weary father getting into his car after a long days work, or in some cases it happens to an unsuspecting family going through their daily evening routine. Murder and crime happens to everyday people in everyday towns throughout everyday lives. People such as Bob Rupp will forever have their life altered and will never be the same after losing a loved one in such a heartbreaking way. Reading Rupp’s story has brought the lives of these characters back to life again for me and reminded me that this book is not a story…not a fairy tale; it is the true accounts of a true disaster that took place in Holcomb County. It is the story of a murder, something that happens around our world everyday, and just because you think “that will never happen to me” and go on with your daily lives unscathed doesn’t mean a part of your life cant be affected by this horrible act. Bob Rupp was an unsuspecting victim himself. He lost his high school sweetheart to the malice of a killer and his life from there on out was forever altered.
March 25, 2010 at 2:17 am
Christina Mathis
Article #2
Which is more important: nature or nurture? You must use evidence from the book to support your answer; you may use outside resources as well, as long as you provide appropriate citations in MLA format.
The nature vs. nurture issue is a “longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors” (Myers, 9). Who-or what-is responsible for the formation of personality? Of temperament? Of distinguished characteristics between individuals? In my opinion, nature plays a much more significant role in human development.
Perry’s life was a bitter one. His mother a “disgraceful drunkard” (126) and his father un-encouraging and “ignorant.” (133) Perry had a “father and son” (132) attack at life. A life lived in a “primitive sort of trailer” and that “never stayed in the same place too long” (132).
Dick was different. He lived with both parents, and a younger brother growing up, on a small farm near Olathe. (24) In other words, Dick had a family supporting him, a family to go home to at the end of each day.
So why did these two different people commit the same heinous crime? Consider a study of adopted twins, each reared in different home environments, still showed similarities in their outgoingness and agreeableness (Myers 101,106). This proves the influence of heredity (nature) very apparent in behavior. Even though Dick and Perry were raised two different ways, in two different environments, their actions can be traced back to their genes.
They both seem to have the same “emotional excitability” or temperament. Temperament, whether “reactive, intense and fidgety, or easygoing, quiet, and placid” is apparent soon after birth and continues relatively unchanged into adulthood (Myers 103). Perry and Dick “both were fastidious” (30) or excessively particular, critical, or demanding (hard to please). Their temperament is obviously reactive and intense.
Believe what you may, but it is clear that nature is responsible for the crime Dick and Perry committed. Genetics are deemed responsible for a person’s “characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting” no matter how inhumane or horrific (Myers 107).
Myers, David. Psychology: Eighth Edition. New York: Worth Publishers, 2007. Print.
March 25, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Taylor Webb
Taylor Webb
Comment #3
Per. 6
Christina i think you are totally correct. Would Perry have killed if he had not had such a tumultuous childhood? And would Dick still have not killed any of the victims if he had a childhood like Perry’s? My personal belief is that the answer to both of these questions is “yes.” Yes, because everyone starts off from a firm foundation (their genetic code), and then builds off of that throughout their lifetime. Perry had a mental breakdown the night of the murder. He contributed this to his horrendous childhood, yet Capote notes that the psychiatrist who examined him decided he likely had a form of paranoid schizophrenia. This disease, though intensified by early experiences, is brought on mainly by genetics. Then there is the case of Dick. He did not kill any of the victims, yet he planned the whole murder, and a few others. Furthermore, after the killings, he showed no remorse for what he had planned and brought about. What created Dick’s “orientation”? Not his seemingly standard childhood, but the part of him determined before his birth—the unchanging genetic code. This is the one part of us that will never be altered, the foundation upon which we grow.
March 26, 2010 at 1:50 am
Josh Dismuke
I agree with both Christina and Taylor, nature is definitly more important when it comes to determining a person’s personality and stuff. Our nature is kinda like a foundation we build off of. I think our nature sets the ranges of what we can be and our upbringing, childhood, and experiences that determine who we are within those ranges.
March 25, 2010 at 2:21 am
Sarah Gregory
Topic: Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone?
The city of Holcomb would first be seen as a quiet, peaceful, and relatively normal town. That perspective was soon altered when the death of a family was soon discovered. Two men brutally murdered a very loving family, the Clutters. In my opinion, Dick and Perry, the men who were responsible for the deaths of the family, deserve the death penalty. If there were anything worse than the death penalty… That is what they would deserve! These two men killed the most loving family in Holcomb, and never thought twice about what they did. When the people of the town soon hear about the horrific event they couldn’t believe it. “The suffering. The horror. They were dead. A whole family. Gentle, kindly people, people I knew- murdered. You had to believe it, because it was really true “(66). The people living in Holcomb didn’t want to believe something like this really happened, but they soon must cope with it. This is a perfect example for when somebody takes a life, their life should be taken from them as well…
March 25, 2010 at 2:26 am
lazylady34
Tone
Is Capote an objective or subjective narrator? As you explain your answer, be sure to include your definitions of “objective” and “subjective,” as well as ample evidence from the book for support.
Truman Capote is an objective narrator. An objective narrator tells a story strictly based on facts and not influenced by his or her own personal feelings. A subjective narrator on the other hand places a lot of the emphasis on their own feelings and opinions. As a subjective narrator the book would be written based on their own opinions of the matter and feelings about the characters. Capote would obviously be considered an objective narrator because his writings of In Cold Blood consists of facts and not his own opinion. Capote did not choose sides throughout the whole story and although he obviously knew how the ending was going to turn out he did not give away information until he wanted us to know it. Everything in the story is factually true and he does not try to persuade the reader toward any certain point of view. Although the reader wants to automatically hate Dick and Perry because they murdered the family, throughout the book Capote stays completely objective and allows the reader to create their own opinions.
March 25, 2010 at 2:27 am
lazylady34
THIS IS #2 MRS. TAYLOR! SORRY!
March 25, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Kelsey Alyea
I have to agree with “lazylady34” In the fact that Capote stays strictly objective during the entire novel. He nevel once put his feelings or thought into the book, and everything is strictly factual. I also would have to be amazed at all of the work Caopte must have put into this piece. I know I will never be able to write such a piece in where I can have a 343 pages full of facts. It seems almost impossible.
March 25, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Kelsey Alyea
Comment #2 Sorry
March 25, 2010 at 2:26 am
Megan Spears
Article #2
How does Capote build suspense despite the fact that readers know the ultimate outcome from the beginning of In Cold Blood?
When readers first pick up the novel, “In Cold Blood,” the title itself foreshadows that something out of the ordinary will happen. However, Capote uses other stylistic elements to pick up the suspense other than foreshadowing. The syntax of his sentences are used to keep suspense throughout the entire novel. They build up anticipation, even though the readers already know what is to come of the Clutter family. As his sentences are very complex, they include a very vast amount of details in such a short amount of words. For example “Then the mood, like the evening ocean fog now clouding the street lamps, closed round her.” Capote sets the tone of the novel through sensory details, and through his details you can imagine what the scene is like. As in the excerpt above, the descriptions of the settings can be found suspenseful and at the same time creepy. It keeps the reader on their toes, when they picture in their heads how everything looks, and they may get nervous knowing that something bad is about to happen. It is like the music playing in a scary movie, but only in words. His syntax, is used to express, but also to make it easier to understand what is going on and make the story more interesting.
March 25, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Ashley Hero
Comment #3
I like your analogy “It is like the music playing in a scary movie, but only in words.” It fits perfectly with throughout the entire book, from beginning to end. Capote’s vivid descriptions of everything, from actions to settings, make it seem exactly like an Alfred Hitchcock movie or something similar of the sort.
March 25, 2010 at 2:26 am
Ryan Leigh
Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone?
I believe that both Dick and Perry deserve the death penalty. Anyone who has killed before needs to have what they had done, done to them. They both broke the law, they should both pay. The death penalty is used for people who have messed up. It is used to get rid of the messed up people in the world. Dick and Perry are those kind of people. They murdered a whole family, and just kind of shrugged their shoulders. Dick planned everything down to his stockings. He wanted everything to be perfect, and to him, like an adventure. Perry followed orders, and was his right hand man. What they did was not alright. They shouldn’t have anything left for them, including their lives. Saying that Dick and Perry should not receive the death penalty is like saying that people like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy don’t deserve the death penalty. If you kill, you should be killed, plain and simple. It may be worse for them to rot in prison, but it is far more dangerous to give people like Dick and Perry any possible chance of taking another person’s life. You would want the same thing done to them if you were friends and/ or family of the Clutters.
March 25, 2010 at 2:54 am
lazylady34
playing devils advocate, don’t you think that when a crime that malicious is performed that by killing the defendants, you might be letting them off to easy? they say that rotting in a jail cell for more than 20 years can be worse on a mans soul than death could ever compete with. i think they should be killed too. they suck.
March 25, 2010 at 2:58 am
Ryan Leigh
Article #2
March 25, 2010 at 3:07 am
Ryan Leigh
I mean Article #3!
March 25, 2010 at 2:27 am
Josh Dismuke
Who is Francois Villon? From what text are the four lines borrowed? Find at least 2 translations of these lines. Which one of the two do you prefer? Why? Why does Capote use these specific lines, from this specific poet, for this book?
Francois Villon was a French poet. He was known as a thief, cheat, and murderer. The 4 lines were from his “Ballade des pendus” which he wrote while in prison.
Frères humains qui apres nous vivez
N’ayez le cœur contre nous endurci,
Car, si pitié de nous pauvres avez,
Dieu en aura plus tot de vous merci.
Human brothers who live after us,
Do not have (your) hearts hardened against us,
For, if you take pity on us poor (fellows),
God will sooner have mercy on you.(Wikipedia)
O Brother men who live, though we are gone,
Let not your hearts be hardened at the view,
For if you pity us you gaze upon,
God is more like to show you mercy too . . .
Pray then to God that he forgive us all (http://www.umass.edu/wsp/lectures/translation/villon.html)
I prefer the second translation (the one from umass.edu) over the first basically because it sounds better. They both say about the same thing but the first seems like it was more roughly translated while the second seems as it was written by an English poet.
Capote uses these lines in relation to Dick and Perry. He is trying to make the point that putting them to death won’t really do any good. In the lines Villon urges the reader to take pity on them, he even throws in a little bit of Bible reference, “if you can’t forgive others how can you expect god to forgive you?” The ironic thing about Capote putting these lines in is that they were written by a murderer while in prison, it gives the reader another viewpoint.
March 25, 2010 at 2:51 am
lazylady34
Links
Read and respond to one of the articles on this fascinating website: http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/. If you find another website or article about Capote or In Cold Blood, you may use that as well.
————————————————————————————
An outspoken critic—-
this article was about the lead state attorney prosecutor was misrepresented in Capote’s book. from what I’ve read, i can say that i don’t think Capote intentionally put down Duane West to make him look like he didn’t do his job correctly, but i think he just did a not so hot job of representing Mr. Wests efforts in the case. Mr. West seems like a very strong willed man and he seem like when he wants something he goes and gets it. he says that he is not bothered by Capote’s lack of representation, because Mr. west knows he was there and says he knows the facts and that’s all that matters. Mr. West quoted that “I wasn’t one of Capote’s drinking buddies, so he kind of ignored me.” So what I can infer is that West thinks that Capote intentionally ignored him to make him seem like he has less importance in the case than he really did. The courts transcript proved that West played very bill role in the case, and he seems content with knowing that. West says “I’m an opinionated person, and I don’t make any apologies for that,” he said. “I think everyone should have an opinion, but it should be an informed opinion.” So by saying this I think that he is saying it is Capote who is misinformed, not Mr. West.
March 25, 2010 at 2:51 am
Sarah Gregory
Capote is known for his elaborate sentence structure and use of parallelism. Pick a paragraph in which Capote’s syntax is especially impressive and write an analysis explaining why his sentence structure is effective.
Throughout the novel, “In Cold Blood,” Capote uses a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structure that makes the reader truely believe that he/she was really there. In one certain passage in the book stood out when I was reading page111, the use of syntax and parallelism is what grabbed my attention. He uses short sentences then goes right into long, drawn out sentences, a short sentence then a long sentence. The short sentences is what Capote is using to stand out and to get the point across to the reader. “”Deal me out, baby. I’m a normal.” Wasn’t that a horse’s laugh? But never mind, let it pass. “Deep down…” (111)” This is just a little excerpt from the paragraph that consistantly parallels with one another. Although, Capote does this throughout the entire novel.
March 25, 2010 at 2:51 am
Josh Dismuke
Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone? You must use evidence from the book to support your answer; you may use outside resources as well, as long as you provide appropriate citations in MLA format.
First of all I believe this question begs this first “do you believe in the death penalty?” which I do. I believe Dick and Perry deserve the death penalty, both of them, because even if one of them did absolutely everything the other could have easily stopped him. The murder they committed was vicious and cold blooded, hence the title “In Cold Blood”. In the degrees of murder this would probably fit into the worst category, they killed a family that was one the brightest and most respected in their community. The way they committed the murder also contributes to its viciousness, short range blasts from a shotgun, with the exception of the father who had his throat cut. Something else that adds to the murders was how it was totally random; Dick and Perry could easily found another family to murder. People that are willing to do that do not deserve to have a life.
March 25, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Ashley Alvarez
Ashley Alvarez
Extra credit Comment # 1
6th period
I agree with Josh on how either of them could have easily stopped the other. Regardless who pulled the trigger they are both still as responsible for the murders. So I agree with both getting the death penalty. They both killed a much respected family who did nothing to deserve it.
March 25, 2010 at 2:58 am
Christina Mathis
Article #3
Read and respond to one of the articles on this fascinating website: http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/. If you find another website or article about Capote or In Cold Blood, you may use that as well.
Wow. That’s all I can say after reading the Bob Rupp article. I forgot-for a moment-that this book was an actual account of a murder. That real people were harmed and real people had their hearts broken. The article posed a different view of the murder-a personal one. Bob Rupp was in love with Nancy Clutter, I could hardly imagine losing someone so close to me. It has to still hurt him-the pain of being robbed of his first love, of life as he knew it. Rupp’s life changed the day Richard Hickock and Perry Smith decided to murder the Clutters.
Herb was like a “second father” to him. Nancy and he were “always together.” “You saw one, you saw the other.”
I was very surprised, though, when I read that Truman Capote was always asking questions. The article described him as having no compassion for the grief stricken town he was interviewing. The least he could do was be a little understanding of the situation. Neither Bob nor Larry Rupp have read In Cold Blood and I’m not surprised at that. Why do they need to read something they witnessed?
This article made me understand the reality of it all. That even in the smallest of towns, a heinous crime as this can be committed. A town like ours. Compare Holcomb with Crawfordville, there pretty similar. Both small and never heard of. We are a Christian community with many well-known families. I think, what if? What if we all wake up one morning, only to discover that one of our peers has been murdered; a friend and a family gone forever? What if..?.
March 26, 2010 at 12:53 am
Shelby Coleman
Comment #3
I completely understand how Truman Capote could be seen as being insensitive to a hurting community, but maybe that was necessary to complete his project which in my opinion was a worthy one. He is keeping the memory of the Clutters and what happened to them alive so the rest of the world can look in shame and disgust upon two deranged killers. In order for him to be as accurate and thorough as he was, he had to get the fact and information while it was fresh in the minds of those involved, even thought that might have been a painful process.
March 25, 2010 at 3:01 am
Ryan Leigh
Article #2
What is the theme of this novel?
A prevalent theme in the novel is the power of self-image. Perry and Dick both had major issues in this department which led to the eventual slaughter of four innocent people. They each had major insecurities, but more so Perry. Simple comments and thoughts of his throughout the book key the reader into this fact. As he is thinking about a time when he was talking to his sister he says, “Please, Bobo. Please listen. You think I like myself? Oh, the man I could have been” (184). He constantly was thinking little of himself and truly believed that everyone else felt the same way. The psychiatric investigation that took place at the end of the story backs up this idea. Dr. Jones stated that, “He is suspicious and distrustful of others, tends to feel that others discriminate against him…He is overly sensitive to criticisms that others make of him” (297). All of this insecurity and his negative view of himself led to his outright rage that enabled him to kill the Clutters.
While Perry is describing the murder to Dewey, he even admits that it was sort of a contest between him and Dick that brought him to actually commit the murders. “‘All right, Dick. Here goes.’ But I didn’t mean it…See, it was something between me and Dick” (244). It just goes to show how powerful self-image can be. It was Perry’s own hatred toward himself that fueled the murderous rage. “I knelt down beside Mr. Clutter, and the pain of kneeling…The shame. Disgust…But I didn’t realize what I’d done till I heard the sound” (244).
March 25, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Taylor Webb
Taylor Webb
Comment #2
Per. 6
Ryan both men, Perry especially, are highly image-conscious and attuned to how others perceive them. Towards the end of the book, we learn from Perry’s psychiatric evaluation that he is “overly sensitive to criticisms that others make of him, and cannot tolerate being made fun of. He is quick to sense slight or insult in things others say” (297). In some sense, the rivalry between Dick and Perry is a mutual struggle for self-recognition. Self-image represents, in a larger sense, social status and self-determination, neither of which is available to these men. For Perry, the botched robbery at the Clutters is a painful reminder of his own lack of means or social mobility, and his feelings of shame and self-loathing at this realization are ultimately at the root of his homicidal rampage.
March 26, 2010 at 1:36 am
Taylor Craig
Comment #3
I agree with Taylor. Both men, especially Perry, seem to have very low self-esteems. This can be explained by Perry’s troubled childhood. He did not grow up in the typical loving enviroment being told that he was “special” as most of us do. This also explains why the murders committed by these two were so gruesomely perfect and their small details, such as the knots used to tie the victims, suggest that they wanted their murder to the recognized almost as if it was a piece of art. Dick is very practical and comes across as confidence but in reality he is not as brave as he originally appears to be.
March 25, 2010 at 4:25 am
Megan Spears
Article #3
What is the effect of the author’s use of montage (repeatedly switching back-and-forth between Holcomb and the approaching killers)?
With Capote’s usage of montage, it creates more suspense. As the reader, we want to warn the characters in the book of what is about to happen because we have an insight. Capote’s goal is to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, and just when something important is about to happen, he switches it up so you will be more apt to read on. The effect of montage can be somewhat confusing and causes you to have to pay more attention. As the killers are on their way to Holcomb, Capote continually describes the people in the town and the picture perfect family of the Clutter’s. He keeps this consistency to where every time the killers do something vital in the novel, he refers back to the graceful town of Holcomb and the characters including the workers of Mr. Clutter. It’s as though the good and evil are being evened-out. However the main reason for montage in this novel is for foreshadowing and suspense in which Capote takes advantage of to use it. The suspense level is a lot higher with the montage that goes along with his syntax throughout the entire book.
March 25, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Kyle Roddenberry
Kyle Roddenberry comment on Megan Spears article #3
I agree that Capote uses montage to keep you in suspense. You already know what is going to happen but how he depicts the picture perfect Holcomb as he writtes about it makes you think that it is not going to happen. On the other hand he flashes back to the actions of Dick and Perry
as they plan to murder the nice Clutter family. He really keeps you on the edge of your seat while he is describing Dick and Perry as they get ready to murder them, but I think he means to kind of ease the suspense off a little while he writting about Holcomb. I think, in a way, he writting the music that lets you know a gigantic shark is about to attack someone on the movie Jaws.
March 25, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Kyle Roddenberry
That was comment #2