In In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, the device of juxtaposition is used to contrast the differing mental states of Dick and Perry, which is emphasized by the syntax, diction, and tone throughout the two passages. Capote uses opposing accounts of the same situation to add a deeper characterization of the two men, and to emphasize their differences psychologically. Throughout the book Capote attempts to show the true complexity of the killers, and how their backgrounds and psyches affected their actions. Although Capote is talking in the third person omniscient, he changes his style when describing the two characters. Throughout the passage told from Dick’s point of view, the syntax is surprisingly curt and choppy. As he is expressing his exasperation towards Perry, his sentences break off repeatedly. He states, “He was annoyed. Annoyed as hell”, which not only is comprised of two extremely short sentences, but also emits an aggressive tone (Capote 108). Dick’s attitude towards Perry becomes apparent quickly, as whenever Perry begins to speak Dick is filled with negative thoughts about his half-witted partner. The curtness and negative content of his thoughts show the annoyance and sheer contempt that Dick feels. Also, Capote uses the short and concise sentences when describing Dick to show his clear mindedness and his seemingly rational thought process. The simplicity of Dick’s thoughts make him seem more focused and reliable. He uses this contrast to emphasize the
Although in In Cold Blood, Truman Capote is illustrating the points of view of Holcomb, Dick, and Perry after the murder of the Clutter family, his prime motive is to exonerate Perry from blame for what he did; therefore he asserts that outside forces such as other people, the future, and the universe shape a person and their actions.
Capote uses juxtaposition for the purpose to compare Perry’s two different sides. When Perry is trying to think about the night of the incident he remembers, “ I didn’t want to harm the man. I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat” (Capote 244). Comparing the two sides lets the readers know... He just can’t help but get so caught up in killing.
His specific word choices help express the image he is trying to show. During this section Mrs. Meier expresses her sympathy toward Dick’s mother, Mrs. Hickock, and Perry. When she shows her sympathy for Mrs. Hickock, Capote uses the longer and more complex sentences to express her feeling. For Perry she use the shorter and consecutive sentences. She has known Perry longer and she had tried to comfort him
In Truman Capote’s captivating nonfiction, In Cold Blood, Capote ventures through the journey and lives of both the killed and the killers all while analyzing the point in which they crossed paths. From the days before the four Clutters were murdered to the last moments of the two killers’ lives, Capote takes into account each and every aspect that creates the ‘famous’ Clutter Case with an in depth look of just how and why these strange and unforeseeable events occurred. What was originally supposed to only be an article in a newspaper turned into an entire book with Capote analyzing both how and why a murder comes to be through the use of pathos, juxtaposition, and foreshadowing.
“In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote is a nonfiction book based on a real crime happened in the peaceful town of Holcomb, Kansas. Capote wrote from both victim and criminal side to show both thoughts and point of view of the story to avoid the one-sided account. In the book, Truman Capote, a former journalist and the author of “In Cold Blood” is making readers feel sympathy for Perry since Capote befriended with Perry while interviewing him. Capote uses of pathos and strong diction effectively in order to evoke sympathy for Perry’s childhood environment and deleterious effect it had on Perry’s mind. To begin with, Capote uses emotional appeal in order to illustrate Perry’s devastating past.
When I was reading In Cold Blood I could tell that Capote used strong verbiage when writing and describing places or characters in the book. Capote when writing about Perry describes him in different ways. He writes about his physical appearance in parts of the book and here he shows you what his family is like and how he acts towards Dick. Perry seems like he is the innocent one compared to how Dick acts. But although Perry seems guiltless he definitely is not.
Perry Smith and Dick Hickock are two remarkably different characters. In the beginning of the novel, they’re known only as the murders of the Clutter family, but Truman Capote tells their life stories in such a way that they become more than that. Even though these two men are basically introduced as murderers, they quickly become relatable and interesting characters. So much is learned about their feelings and lives that one can not help but almost look past their reckless ways. Both of these men have unique character traits that amalgamate in an intriguing way. Throughout In Cold Blood, Capote includes many instances that show how Dick and Perry, when combined, make the perfect murderer.
I chose this passage because of its significance to the plot. Once Officer Dewey was assigned to the Clutter case his life was consumed by evidence, witnesses, and long nights reading over potential breakthroughs. The murders injected fear into Dewey’s family and the entire Holcomb community. Therefor, he was constantly being asked for any breakthroughs or information he has obtained about the case and he began to feel overwhelmed. One night Dewey has a nightmare in which he is chasing Hickock and Smith. They stand beside the graves of Herb, Bonnie, Nancy, and Kenyon Clutter and laugh and mock him. Dewey repeatedly shoots the men directly at their heart but they are unharmed. He wakes up in a cold sweat and learns that Dick Hickock has been
Diction supports Capote’s purpose because he uses it to vividly describe the murderers. His diction also shows readers how complex their minds really are and how Perry is really just an ordinary human. As readers meet the murderers, Capote describes Perry as such, “His tiny feet, encased in short black boots with steel buckles, would have neatly fitted into a delicate lady’s dancing slippers; when he stood up, he was no taller than a twelve-year-old child, and suddenly looked, strutting on stunted legs that seemed grotesquely inadequate to the grown-up bulk they supported, not like a well-built truck driver but like a retired jockey, overblown, and muscle bound,” (Capote 15). Capote describes Perry as “no taller than a twelve-year-old” which indicates how he is not some big, dangerous man who murders on the daily. His word choice of “grotesquely inadequate” also connotes how Perry is not strong and can barely support his weight. This makes readers feel sympathy for Perry, which therefore humanizes Perry as not a criminal. Capote also writes how he is more like a “retired jockey” which denotes how he is just a normal guy who has been through life just like anyone else. The word choice makes readers believe Perry is just like anyone else, a normal human being with faults. A second effect of diction is when Capote includes Dr. Jones’ diction to emphasize how Perry’s criminal mind thinks. As Dr. Jones is describing Perry’s mental state he says, “ More extensive evaluation would be necessary to make an exact psychiatric diagnosis, but his presence personality structure is very nearly that of a paranoid schizophrenic reaction,” (Capote 298). Capote
These emotions could go one of two ways- the first would be to feel pity for his parents, while seeing Dick in a slightly more pitiful light, rather than not even seeing him as human. Or it go go the second way, you feel pity for his parents, and begin to hate Dick even more for, not only what he did to the Clutter family, but also what he did to his parents. He not only ruined the Clutter family’s lives, he also ruined his life, his parents’ life, and even Perry’s life, even though he willingly participated in the murder. Capote’s use of pathos really humanizes the Clutter family murders, but also makes them more pitiful. They had a chance at a good life, Dick’s father even said that he used to be a good kid, but they threw it all away, robbing and killing an innocent family. Capote does a very good job of depicting Dick and Perry, creating a good balance between despicable and pitiful, while sharing their side of the story in a very accurate, yet interesting, way.
Truman Capote’s non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood (1963), implies that the death penalty should only be used as a last resort.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is a novel that explains the history of a family murder through two characters perspective. Capote unravels each character through the concept of juxtapose, which helps prevail the occurrence of events. Dick, is a very straight forward man that does not care about what others think. Whereas, Perry has a shy, conserved personality that is shown through transitions and details. Juxtapose effects the readers and characters as explained throughout the novel by comparing and contrasting two different characters opinions.Details are shown on every page and are illustrated in every sentence, which gives the reader the image. In Cold Blood represents the development of characters, juxtapose, transitions and details.
Do you think that every crime has to be breathtaking to attract readers` attention? Not at all. “In Cold Blood” is a non-fiction novel of 1967 by Truman Capote, where a life story of the Clutter family is told. Exactly this story of crime can make you a philosopher – while reading, you will definitely think over the tragedy and the meaning of life. The Clutters met a lot of difficulties on their way to find happiness, but were murdered because of no reason. The police was baffled, as there were no evidences or even suspect, so when they found Bobby Rupp, he automatically became suspected until he did not pass the polygraph test. The officers are disappointed, as no connections between the murdered family and strange individuals, who could be involved in committing a crime, were found. Finally, one of the prisoners confessed and took his friends to the authorities. Men committed the crime following no purpose, so when they were caught, their behavior seemed to be the behavior of frightened sheep: they did not know what to do and how to manage the situation. However, I was disappointed in the reading as it was too long, did not answer all the questions, and is hard to understand.
What the readers know of Dick’s past is very little, as Capote works to characterize him through flashbacks the readers know it was his plan to kill the Clutters and he does have some family “there were those Dick claimed to love: three sons, a mother, a father, a brother—persons he hadn’t dare confide his plan to(Capote 106).” But Capote characterizes Dick more so through descriptions of his habits than through his memories. “Inez was a prostitute…she was eighteen and Dick had promised to marry her. But he had also promised to marry Maria, a women of fifty who was a widow of a very rich banker(Capote 118-119)” Dick is shown throughout the book as someone who uses people to get what he wants, he calls on Perry to help him with his plan, he uses women for sex and money while making promises he never intends to keep. “If he knew Dick, and he did—now he did—would spend the money right away on vodka and women(Capote 119). Capote does not draw any sympathy from the readers, Dick is perceived as an emotionless man who pretends to believe in people and want the same
Although Dick and Perry may both be killers, Capote uses language to portray Perry as a victim of Dick;therefore, Perry is seen through the eyes of the reader as an innocent man who was simply taken advantage of and molded into a killer by Dick.