Personal Review

In Cold Blood is one of the most interesting murder novels that I have ever read.  The way Truman Capote chose to structure the book was intriguing to me and was one of my favorite aspects of the novel overall.  I liked the way the book was divided into four sections, each detailing a different part of the story from the day of the murder up to the deaths of the criminals.  The unique syntax utilized throughout the novel also caught my attention.  The variety in sentence structure definitely was composed well by the author to mirror the different tones and situations that developed over the course of the plot.  I believe that the title was chosen well for the subject matter of this book as well.  When you kill someone in cold blood it means that you do it in a way that is cruel because you plan it out and commit it without emotion – this describes the actions of Dick and Perry perfectly because they killed the four members of the Clutter family without motive and felt “no regret” afterward.

The book begins somewhat mysteriously because the author does not explicitly state that Dick and Perry are or will be the killers.  However, clues within Capote’s writing and tone allowed me to figure out that the two men were involved.  Also, every chapter shifted point of views.  I liked this unique aspect of the novel as well.  The reason I found this interesting is because, as the reader, it gave me the opportunity to see the mindset of both killers, members of the Clutter family (before they died), and the detectives who were determined to find a resolution to the motiveless crime.  This allows the reader to gain a better understanding of the character and personality of all the people involved. 

After the murders were addressed in the beginning of the novel, the author, also, purposely left out the motive.  This was effective because it kept me guessing as to why the killers drove from far away to kill an innocent family and then flee to Mexico.  But by the end of the novel when the detectives were able to obtain confessions from the killers, I was surprised to learn that Perry was the one who had committed all four murders.  During the course of the novel, Perry, at first, doubted their ability to carry out with the crime and he seemed to be characterized as more of a follower, with Dick as the leader.

However, I disliked the way the novel included long letters from family members and friends of Dick and Perry.  Although the letters helped provide information regarding the characters’ past, some of them were too long, at least for me, and seemed to make the book go off on tangents.  I believe some of the letters were not necessary to include in the novel because they did not affect the outcome or conclusion of the case.

Altogether, this piece of literature is definitely one that has made an impression on me.  With the combination of the unique syntax and the cleverly composed story line, I believe that In Cold Blood is a great example of an interesting documentary.  

Text Connections

Towards the end of the novel, Dick and Perry are sentenced to death by hanging.  They are placed on death row and are forced to wait several years before their date of execution is determined.  Over the years, the men become accustomed to their isolated life as they wait for the validity of their trial to be assessed.  When the Kansas Supreme Court declared that both murderers’ lives must end on Wednesday, April 14, 1965, Dick disagreed with the final verdict and stated, “’I believe in hanging.  Just so long as I am not the one being hanged’” (336).

A text-to-world connection can be made because of the relationship this novel has to the idea of the death penalty.  The death penalty can be administered through lethal injection, electrocution, and other techniques developed by various countries.  This topic has been very controversial in the United States for some time because some states have outlawed the death penalty while others plan to keep it as the ultimate punishment.

On the one hand, people argue that someone who has committed a capital crime should be punished.  These people believe that if someone is guilty of a heinous crime, especially when it involves the murder of other people, they no longer deserve to live and should receive the worst possible punishment – death.  However, on the other hand, some say that it is inhuman to kill someone no matter what the crime.  They argue that it is just as bad to take the life of the killer who took the life (or lives) of others.

A text-to-movie connection can be made to the movie The Green Mile as well.  The Green Mile tells the story of a wrongly accused man who is found guilty of murdering two little girls.  However, even though he is innocent of the crime, just like Perry and Dick, he is sentenced to death and spends the next several months of his life on death row.  He experiences the same anxiety that both of the Clutter Killers feel as they wait for their execution day.  While on death row he also meets several other convicted murderers just like Perry and Dick.  All three meet people with whom they connect with and others that they do not like.

Overall, one can see that the death penalty poses both pros and cons regarding the life of a guilty criminal.  However, is one choice better than the other?

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.

Diction

·       “The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome are that other Kansans call ‘out there’…Holcomb, too, can be seen from great distances.  Not that there is much to see—simply an aimless congregation of buildings…a haphazard hamlet…streets [that are] unnamed, unshaded, unpaved…with its peeling sulphur-colored paint…and is equally melancholy” (4).

In the beginning of In Cold Blood, there is a frequent use of negatively connotated words that are simple for the most part, but in order to add sophistication and credibility to the novel, the author incorporates some polysyllabic words.  The higher diction appeals to ethos because it shows that the author is educated and has knowledge of the town where the murders took place.  This is important since the book is based off of a true story.  For example, the words “lonesome,” “aimless,” “unnamed,” and “peeling” are negatively connotated words that represent and help develop a mysterious and complacent tone regarding the overall image of the town.  Capote sets out to illustrate through his choice of diction, and the help of imagery, his portrayal of the town of Holcomb as one that is unimportant and constantly over looked.  He describes the town with the color “sulphur” to show that it is dull and boring.  The author even mentions the word “melancholy” because the town does not receive many visitors, if any at all.  However, the formality of the novel is shown through the polysyllabic words and its subjective diction such as “congregation,” “haphazard,” and “melancholy.”  These words not only help add sophistication, they aid in the developing of the scene and set the tone for the rest of the novel as well.

·       “Like the waters of the river, like the motorists of the highway, and like the yellow trains streaking down the Santa Fe tracks, drama, in the shape of exceptional happenings, had never stopped there…[The people lead] and ordinary life—to work, to hunt, to watch television, to attend school socials…” (5).

This quotation, pulled from the beginning of the first section, describes common actions that the members of Holcomb do on a daily basis.  The author uses the repetition of “like the” and “to” in order to show the community’s unvarying way of life.  The reader can infer that use of such repetition is meant to show Holcomb in an unimportant or uninteresting fashion.  The monotonous tone is represented by these two different anaphoras.  On top of this, the phrase “had never stopped there” connotes that the small town was, in a sense, unchanging.  The diction represented in this statement is simple in order to mirror the simplicity of the town.

·      “But this chunky, misshapen child-man was not pretty; the pink end of his tongue darted forth, flickering like the tongue of the lizard.  He was smoking a cigarette, and from the evenness of his exhalations Nye deduced that the was still a ‘virgin’” (224).

Capote mentions that Dick is a “virgin” after he is done interrogating him for the first time.  However, this simply means, and is later explained in the novel, that the suspect is still unaware of the real purpose of the interview that he is currently apart of.  He does not realize that the detectives are not accusing him of violating his parole, but for murdering the Clutter family.  This unique word choice emphasizes the idea that Dick is not very perceptive to the hints of the detectives and remains uninformed.  The words in the quotation above such as, “misshapen” and “child-man” are negatively connotated words that portray Dick’s innocent and mistaken way of thinking at that moment.  It is this diction that adds to the suspenseful tone right before the climax of the novel is reached – when the confession is finally obtained.  

Rhetorical Strategies

·      Foreshadowing:  “A bookmark lay between its pages, a stiff piece of watered silk upon which an admonition had been embroidered: ‘Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is’” (30).

·      Simile:  “It was as though his head had been halved like an apple, then put together a fraction off center” (31).

·      Zeugma: “Along with Buffalo Jones, who lost his money and then his mind…” (32).

·      Imagery:  “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” (32).

·      Irony:  “Perry’s inspiration, nuns, he had argued, were certain to have a supply [of black stockings]” (41).

·      Rhetorical Question: “The flaw?  Explosive emotional reaction out of all proportion to the occasion” (43).

·      Personification:  “his memory…haunting the hallways of his mind” (44).

·      Alliteration: “projects Perry had proposed” (99).

·      Adage: “’an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’” (142).

·      Simile: “I loved my father but there were times when this love and affection I had for him drained from my heart like wasted water” (275).

·      Alliteration: “the whisper of the wind voices in the wind-bent wheat” (343).

·      Metaphor: “He and Dick were ‘running a race without a finish line’” (202).

·      Rhetorical Question: “’Is that rain?  All the windows down!”’ (338).

Analysis:

            Truman Capote implements a variety of language and figurative devices to add diversity to his writing in his novel In Cold Blood.  Throughout the book, he uses these rhetorical devices to allow the reader to picture the dark and evil ways of the murderers’ actions.  By incorporating a series of different strategies, a specific style becomes prominent in Capote’s writing.   One can see that in parts of the novel, the rhetorical devices add certain effects to the intensity of the plot.

            In the first section, titled “The Last to See Them Alive,” the author utilizes foreshadowing to hint at what is going to happen later on in the novel.  The example above is a quotation from the Bible that Mrs. Clutter keeps in her room.  Because the Bible is one of the few objects that Mrs. Clutter has in her possession while she is isolated in her room, one can see that it is important.  This statement, made at the end of one of the chapters and towards the middle of the section, foreshadows that death will be coming for someone (although we do not know who at this point in the novel).  Following the foreshadowing are the descriptions of the two murderers.  Capote uses a simile to characterize Dick’s physical appearance.  The simile is a comparing an apple pieced together the wrong way with the structure of Dick’s face.  This is a result of a car accident that happened earlier on in his life.  By giving the reader the opportunity to picture one of the antagonists, they are able to get a full understanding of the murderers’ experiences and what may have lead to their decision to kill such an honorable family.  The author then goes on to explain some of the people Dick and Perry have met in the past, including Buffalo Jones.  By implementing a zeugma, Capote shows that Jones is both poor and mentally unstable.  Including this character in the novel tells the reader that both Perry and Dick have encountered odd personalities that may match their own. 

            Imagery plays a large part throughout this novel as well.  Whether it is to describe the murder scenes or the challenging journey the detectives have to overcome to catch the killers, one can see that it is important to the author’s writing style.  Imagery allows the reader to illustrate in their mind the images or situations present in the novel.  This gives the audience the opportunity to relate and connect with the book.  One circumstance where Capote demonstrates imagery is when he mentions the tattoos present on each of the killers’ bodies.  Not only does this characterize the suspects, it also gives the reader the background history (by telling us where and why they have the tattoos).  We learn that Perry and Dick have both struggled at certain times in their life.  However, this does not stop them from premeditating and carrying out with the four murders of the Clutter family.  On their journey to the house, Dick stops and asks a nun if she has any black stockings.  Therefore, the example above is ironic because the black stockings will be used to hide their faces during the killings, but they would have been bought from a holy and sacred place.  On top of this, Perry then begins to question if they will be able to follow through with their plan.  This is when the author uses several rhetorical questions.  After analyzing the context in which the rhetorical questions were used, one can see that Perry doubts their plan – another factor that plays into his complex characterization.  One can see that many of the rhetorical strategies that are found in the novel aim toward the characterization of the antagonists and the murder itself.

            Other devices such as alliteration, metaphors, similes, adages, and personification are represented in the writing style of the author.  Alliteration, such as the examples above, is used to add diversity to the text and add emphasis to that sentence of the novel.  The repeating sound of the “p” and the “w” are significant because it draws attention to the tone of the passages.  When Capote states, “projects Perry had proposed,” the tone can be described as serious and somewhat suspenseful (99).  On the other hand, when he ends with the line: “the whisper of the wind voices in the wind-bent wheat,” this demonstrates a peaceful and more subtle atmosphere (343).  Both the personification and the simile included above portray Perry’s feelings toward his father.  The example of personification mentions how his memory “haunts” him and the simile compares his love for his father to wasted water.  However, one of the most important rhetorical devices written in the novel is in the form of a metaphor: “He and Dick were ‘running a race without a finish line’” (202).  At this point in the novel, after being on the run for quite some time, Dick and Perry are worn out mentally and physically.  The impact of the murders, although committed in cold blood, has made their lives horrible and unfavorable.   Just like a race can become tiring, the murderers’ are running from the law and dodging obstacles along the way.

            Overall, the different forms of figurative language and rhetorical devices add something unique to Capote’s style of writing.  In Cold Blood is a cleverly crafted book that utilizes these techniques strongly to emphasize the intensity of the plot.