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Prostitution In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

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A Crime Against Humanity Drugs. Murder. Prostitution. These words should never be discussed in a classroom, particularly when they will influence the audience to participate in them. Truman Capote's nonfiction novel, In Cold Blood, discusses all of these horrid issues through the chilling account of the Clutter family murder on November fifteenth, 1959. This novel includes elicit dissuasion of violence and sexual content, not appropriate for a young audience. Although youth should not be sheltered from the evil world around them, In Cold Blood should be banned from instruction in high schools due to its graphic and gruesome portrayal of criminal actions. To begin, substance abuse portrayed in In Cold Blood displays a major issue faced by …show more content…

Violence is easily seen in today's culture through criminal actions in the media. Surprisingly, "on average, American youth view more than 1,000 murders, rapes, and assaults each year" (Rockefeller 2). This shocking fact demonstrates just how prevalent violence is in the young minds of Americans. As a result of these viewings, young adults are sure to have psychological effects. Studies have proven that "children who view media violence are more likely to have increased feelings of hostility, decreased emotional response to the portrayal of violence and injury that lead to violent behavior through imitation" (Tompkins 1). Children absorb what they see in the world around them, highlighting the importance of protecting them from violent media. The viewers are more likely to imitate violence, and are also more likely to feel hostile and aggressive. These impacts, along with a loss of empathy for humans, should not be encouraged in a classroom. While these effects are linked to violence in the media, they can be generalized to murder. In Cold Blood, is centered on the Clutter family murder, where Herbert, Bonnie, and their two children, Nancy and Kenyon, were killed. Therefore, murder is a prevalent theme. The family was gagged, tied down, and then killed individually, as the book describes in detail what happened that terrible night (Capote). Violence through murder is displayed explicitly throughout this novel, further justifying the banning of In Cold Blood in high school

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