Syntax

·      “More markings, self-designed and self executed, ornamented his arms and torso: the head of a dragon with a human skull between its open jaws; bosomy nudes; a gremlin brandishing a pitchfork; the word PEACE accompanied by a cross radiating, in the form of crude strokes, rays of holy light; and two sentimental concoctions—one a bouquet of flowers dedicated to Mother-Dad, the other a hear the celebrated the romance of Dick and Carol, the girl whom he had married when he was nineteen, and from who he had separated six years later in order to ‘do the right thing’ by another young lady, the mother of his youngest child” (31).

At the beginning of the novel, before the four murders were committed, the reader can find that the sentence structure is of longer length.  The use of so many words gives only a slight hint toward a frantic and suspenseful tone.  The atmosphere of the novel is more relaxed in the beginning because the murderers’ are not faced with the apprehension of being caught.  This is demonstrated in the author’s use of multiple commas and semi-colons to separate thoughts/phrases instead of periods.  The statement above is a unique form of syntax because it is one of the longest sentences in the novel.  From the information given in the quotation, the reader can conclude that the main purpose of this form of writing style is to draw attention to the characterization of one of the antagonists.  By thoroughly describing the art located on his body, one can gain a fuller understanding of the personality, experiences, and history of Dick.

·      Now it was true—they were on their way—On their way, and never coming back—without regret, as far as he was concerned, for he was leaving nothing behind, and no one who might deeply wonder into what thin air he spiraled” (106).

Another form of syntax that is common in the novel is the implementation of hyphens.  Not only does the use of this punctuation technique allow the reader to focus in on the information being stated, hyphens break up larger sentences and give the author the chance to emphasize on a certain point.  The purpose of the three hyphens in this quotation is to stress the idea that the murderers’ were trying to give themselves a sign of relief.  Capote first goes into more detail of what Perry was thinking was “true,” and from there he capitalizes on the belief that not only were the killers leaving Holcomb, but they were hopefully never going to see the town again.  By going into deeper descriptions the reader is left with a better understanding of the mindset of the murderers’.

·      “A hush.  For ten miles and more, the three men ride without speaking” (245).

Another unique form of syntax that is also unique to In Cold Blood’s style is the way Capote chooses to write his paragraphs.  In the example above, this two-sentence quote represents one of the smaller paragraphs in the novel.  Although this part of his writing takes up only two lines in the book, the impact that it provides is much greater.  By breaking down the paragraph one can see that the author utilizes a two-word sentence to begin the paragraph.  The combination of the short sentence and the word “hush” creates a tone that is suspenseful and an overall feeling of tension in the car between the police officers and Perry.  The purpose and importance of this paragraph is that it draws attention to the circumstance that Perry is in and how he is finally pressured into giving a confession.  The confessions made by the suspects (Dick and Perry) make up the climax of the novel.  Therefore, this two-sentence paragraph is the introduction to the zenith of the plot.

·      “It could mean a long stretch in prison.  Or you might get killed.  All for someone you don’t know.  YOU BETTER THINK IT OVER!! Seriously! Besides how do I know I can trust you?” (265).

The author uses a variety of techniques to change the style in which he writes.  Several times throughout the novel he includes letters from family members or friends to add new perspectives to the story.  The example above is a part of a letter that Perry writes in hope that two men will help him break free from jail.  The syntax present in this part of the letter stands out to the reader for several reasons, which aids in the purpose of showing Perry’s desperation.  First, the short sentences illustrate the intensity and rapidity of the murderer’s thoughts.  Secondly, the all capitalized letters comes across as an important statement, one that should be taken seriously.  The combination of the larger letters and the italicized words draws the reader’s attention to what is being said in the passage.  And finally, the exclamation points (and the use of so many of them) help illustrate to the reader just how determined Perry is in the letter to get his point across.

·      “During moments of actual violence, they often felt separated or isolated from themselves, as if they were watching someone else…” (300).

A few times in the novel, Capote utilizes “…” to end his sentences.  Like in the example above, this is a unique form of syntax and style.  By concluding a sentence with a serious of periods that trails off, this allows the reader to come to his or her own conclusions about how the sentence should end.  This creates a somewhat mysterious tone at parts of the novel.  The purpose of such a technique is to make the novel thought provoking for the reader.