The American Dream In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

Despite this claim of Mrs. Clutter, Capote gave the readers glimpses into the Clutter’s home their daily life and their last day alive; the book shows scenes of Mr. Clutter at the breakfast table, Kenyon working in the basement on his sister’s hope chest, and Nancy laying out her clothes for Sunday morning- the clothes she will be buried in. Simultaneously, Capote effortlessly weaves in illustrated scenes of the murders, Perry Smith and Dick Hickok, on their ominous journey to the Clutter’s family farm.

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The Clutter family is written in a fashion to show they were the normal American family and by fate were entangled with killers (Hollowell 83). Hollowell states, Capote creates a "mythic dimension" through this portrayal (83). The dimension shows the reader how this crime completely disturbs the community of Holcomb and an

Capote goes to great lengths to show that the townspeople viewed the Clutter family as an ideal American family. Mr. Herbert Clutter was the most successful farmer in Holcomb: "He was, however, the community's most widely known citizen, prominent both there and in Garden City, the close dash by county seat..." (6). Capote details his numerous

Truman Capote wrote In Cold Blood with the intention of creating a new non-fiction genre, a creative spin on a newspaper article with the author, and his opinions and judgments completely absent from the text, leaving only the truth for the reader to interpret. The pages of In Cold Blood are filled with facts and first-hand accounts of the events surrounding the brutal murder of a wealthy unsuspecting family in Holcomb, Kansas. Author Truman Capote interviewed countless individuals to get an accurate depiction of every one affected by and every side of the murder. Although he declares himself an unbiased and opinion-free author, based on the extensive descriptions of one of the murderers, Perry Smith, there is much debate about this

Propaganda filters throughout the world to lean people’s views one way or another. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, he uses George and Lennie, Crooks, and Curley’s wife to demonstrate the American Dream. This is unattainable but is their motivation to carry on their daily on the ranch lives. George and Lennie’s actions revolve around their American Dream. In a conversation between George and Lennie they discuss their dream, George states “... We’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres, an’ a cow and some pigs” (Steinbeck, 14). George says this to Lennie to motivate him to keep quiet and out of trouble so they can eventually reach these dreams. The American Dream can be defined as people

There are many different dreams to be had: daydreams, dreams of the future, dreams of, well, practically anything imaginable. Perhaps one of the most infamous types of dreams that has been heard of is the American Dream. Defined as “the ideal that every American should have equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative”, the American Dream is one of equality and desire and those who strive to achieve it are ambition-filled, driven individuals. It is hard to define what exactly is required to have achieved the American Dream because, in truth, everyone has a different idea of success and prosperity. Success means something different to every ear that hears the word. This exact truth about the American Dream is prominently seen in the novel In Cold Blood by Truman Capote; a book composed of the many characters, all who possess very different ideas of what the American Dream is.

Capote presents alternating perspectives, the four members of the Clutter family Nancy, Kenyon, Mrs. Clutter and Mr. Clutter, being victims, and the two murderers, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. These different perspectives allow the reader to relive each side of the story for

Capote purposefully detaches himself from this section of the story, allowing the only sense of sympathy come from those who personally knew the Clutters. Because Capote is not able to form a personal relationship with any members of the Clutter family, he simply chooses to briefly explain the family’s murder and shift his attention to the murderers instead. The Clutters all-American image could not rescue them from tragedy and instead of portraying the family as victims, Capote focuses on attempting to encourage the audience to remain optimistic on their views regarding the family’s murderers.

Clutter as an involved person, and are most commonly used when describing his ability to be a leader of the Holcomb community. For example, Capote describes Mr. Clutter as, “an educated man successful in his profession” (34). In 1959, very few people were both well-educated and successful due to the existence of fewer opportunities for higher-quality post-secondary education; therefore, Mr. Clutter belonged to an elite class of people in Holcomb that likely led society. Furthermore, the inclusion of more elaborate words portrays Mr. Clutter as a powerful and distinguished figure rather than a common man. Throughout the duration of this passage, Capote’s use of descriptive phrases to accompany these statements explains to what extent Mr. Clutter volunteers in the community. He is described as an, “eminent Republican and church leader” (35). These two positions would make him known by other residents of Holcomb for two drastically different activities, politics and religion. Moreover, Mr. Clutter was a leader of a less popular church in Holcomb, further

Capote begins his novel with a conventional narrative structure choice: describing the setting. He spends several pages familiarizing the reader with the town of Holcomb, Kansas. This move is crucial, especially when contrasted with his unconventional choices for the traditional narrative timeline as the book progresses. As Capote introduces the reader to the Clutter family, with a particular focus on Herb, he sets the groundwork for the conflict. With necessary background information in mind, the reader first confronts the conflict with the words, “...he headed for home and the day’s work, unaware that it would be his last” (13). It is this moment, that the reader experiences the first sense of satisfaction. This is the

The struggle for financial security and success has always been prominent in the American culture. The idea of the American dream captures the hearts of so many, yet leaves almost all of them enslaved in the endless economic struggle to achieve high status, wealth, and a house with a white picket fence. In Arthur Miller's, Death of a Salesman, we see how difficult it is for Willy Loman and his sons to achieve this so called American dream. In Lorraine Hansberry's, A Raisin in the Sun, she examines an African-American family's struggle to break out of the poverty that is preventing them from achieving some sort of financial stability, or in other words the American dream. Both plays explore the desire for wealth, driving forces that

There used to be a belief that all hard work and effort would eventually lead up to great success, prosperity, and happiness. Unfortunately, this false idea gives people an expectancy that people who are determined to exceed in life, will succeed in life. This is called the American Dream. This dream twists the true meaning of happiness. The American dream shouldn't be measured by how much money a person has, but should lay within a person’s own dream. Whether their dream is in becoming the president or having a chance to smell fries everyday. And just because someone who is successful, does not mean that they are satisfied -success is different to everyone. With so many people busy trying to reach this “dream”, they forget to create their own.

The depressing reality of life can consume every second of every day; however, dreams can help ease that depression, even for just a little bit. The novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck demonstrated how the American dream became corrupted. Of Mice and Men talks about two migrant workers who end up at a ranch in Soledad, California. George and Lennie meet a man, Crooks, and a woman, Curley’s wife, who have dreams that fail to come true. The American dream demonstrates how nothing will become more than a dream proved by George and Lennie, Crooks and Curley’s wife, but still makes life worth living.

In the astounding novel “Of Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck describes a world where the American Dream is portrayed unrealistic and crucial, effectively painting a terrifying portrait of America in the 1930s. The characters in this story demonstrate harsh, real life situations that would occur and could not be controlled. People were treated unfairly being judged for who they are from people who appear egocentric; caring for only themselves. This story takes place during the Great Depression, the time where women were not appreciated, having limited opportunities. Visualize a world with people who were controlled, not being able to speak to anyone they wish to, or travel to places they desire. Dreams people imagined during this time period were impossible to fulfill, leaving them to live a tragic life. Curley’s wife portrays one of the loneliest characters, managing all of the gruesome situations everyone was influenced by. She demonstrates this because she is the only female around town, with a despairing relationship involving Curley, and never lived on a ranch.