In Cold Blood
Truman Capote is one of the greatest authors of all time. He was born in 1924 and died in 1984. Sincehis early childhood, he has written many books and he has won many prizes and awards. Many people say that In Cold Blood was Capote's best work. In this book, Capote writes a carefully detailed account of the murder of the Clutter family. In this detailed account, Capote follows the Clutter family's subsequent adventures, which include the murders, the arrest, trial, and executions of the murderers (Magill 2175). Capote has also been known for his key sense of detail and imagery. It has been said that the artistic value of In Cold Blood is as much to be found in it's illuminating detail (Reed 104). This book is special in the way that it has been set-up. Capote looks at the murderers preparation for the murders. Then he goes back to the Clutter family in their happy household. Capote has a technique of writing that he feels stemmed from his childhood. In many of his books, In Cold Blood included, Capote makes usage of a character's detrimental childhood. He feels that this has stemmed from his childhood because Capote had a bad childhood also. What makes In Cold Blood unique is that at no time in this book does Capot
The dictionary defines the term inhumane as not humane; a cruel or barbarous act. This definition is a huge understatement of the actions that took place during the Clutter family murder. Herb Clutter was a universally respected man (Magill 2176). Right up until the point which he was killed, Herb remained calm and thought positively. As stated by Perry Smith in a later interview, he can be quoted as saying "I thought he [Herb Clutter] was a very nice man...I thought so right up to the moment I slit his throat" (Matuz 86). Perry and Dick had tied Herb Clutter to a duct in the furnace room . They then decided that this wouldn't be a comfortable setting so they laid him down on a cardboard box. Afterwards they preceded to club him on the head, gag him, slit his throat, and shoot him. Every other family member was gagged and tied to something with the exception of Nancy, who was only tied to her bed. Nancy had been laying in bed with her hands and ankles tied together. Her bedcovers were drawn to he chin, and she had been shot with the barrel of the gun not 2 inches away from her head. On top of Perry and Dick shooting a completely innocent and helpless girl, Dick, having an obsession with little girls, wanted to sexually molest Nancy. But Perry, thinking it was grotesque, stopped him from doing so. Finally, Perry and Dick were inhumane because of their lack of compassion. The whole town loved and respected the Clutter family, and on the day of their executions, neither Perry nor Dick apologized to anybody when given the chance to do so. This tragic murder was inhumane because of the actions of Perry and Dick. In conclusion, the Clutter family murder clearly did not have to happen. This was one of the most savage murders of that time period. Perry and Dick have paid the ultimate price for the inhumane, unnessacary, and motivationless crime they committed. Dick and Perry were sick individuals to commit the crimes in the seriousness that they had been carried out. The Clutter's were a well rounded family with love and respect from all. They did not need to have their lives taken away at such an early stage in life. We will never know if Bobby and Nancy would have married, or if one day Mr. Clutter would become a millionaire. These lives were taken for no concrete reason, just the greed for the Clutter's wealth. "In the book In Cold Blood, the murderers Richard Hickock and Perry Smith are prisoners of their pathological childhood. As a consequence, there crimes are rendered understandable, but not forgivable" (Reed 68). Truman Capote excelled in portraying the murder case as a downfall of society with the death of the American Dream. In Cold Blood was a book written on a true account of the murder's of the Clutter family of Holcomb County in Kansas. The book starts out describing the setting and the family. The descriptions reveal the Clutter family as being a happy go-lucky family, with everything going for them. Capote then switches his point of view, and describes the murderer's and their plan for the attack on the Clutter household. The Clutter family is going about their normal way of life, while Perry and Dick, the killers, travel and prepare for the savage attack. Then, Saturday night, shortly after the Clutter's turn in, Perry and Dick arrive on the Clutter's land. They break through the patio door into Herb Clutter's office in hopes of finding a safe that they have heard about. After having no luck, Perry and Dick awake Mr. Clutter and demand the code for the safe. When he tells them that there is no safe, they get more outraged. So they precede to go upstairs and gag Mrs. Clutter, and t
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Approximate Word count = 2470
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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