ipl-logo

Alvin Dewey Case Study

1076 Words5 Pages

Context: The investigation for the murder of the Clutter family is open and sheriff, Alvin Dewey, will stop at nothing to solve the mystery. “ But nothing so vicious as this. However long it takes, it may be the rest of my life, I’m going to know what happened in that house: the why and the who (pg 80)”. Context: After the press conference, Sheriff Dewey ponders about the details of the crime. “ Dewey was undecided… in reconstructing the crime, had developed both a ‘single killer concept’ and a ‘double killer concept’ (pg 81)”. Context: Dewey retires into his office and begins to examine Nancy Clutter’s diary for potential leads. “ Dewey read the final entry first… ‘Practiced with Roxie. Robby was her and we watched TV. Left at eleven (pg 84)”. …show more content…

“ But most of those who telephoned were responsible citizens trying to help… Either that or the callers were people officially concerned- law officers and sheriffs from other parts of the state… it was always possible that the next one might be, as Dewey put it, ‘the break that brings down the curtain’ (pg 101)”. Context: When reviewing facts concerning the murder, Sheriff Dewey finds a particularity which signifies an emotional connection between the killer and the Clutter family. “ Why had the murderers taken the trouble to move the box from the far end of the basement room and lay it on the floor in front of the furnace, unless the intention ha been to make Mr.Clutter more comfortable… (pg 103)”. Context: Dick and Perry decide to pack up and move to Mexico to start a new life for themselves. “ 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… (pg 106)”. Context: As Dick and Perry drive home, Perry contemplates the crime they

Show More
Related
1233 Words | 5 Pages

The investigative team of the town people went to Dimmesdale’s residence and approached the scene of his murder. The investigators noticed a sun glare reflecting from a small metal tool. They stood in silence as they picked up to reveal a scalpel. “Should we report this finding or let that hussy rot in her prison cell?” Said one of the

Read More
969 Words | 4 Pages

The novel, In Cold Blood, is an anomaly in the literary paradigm. The author, Truman Capote, designed his novel in a way that made it unique when compared to others. His fundamental purpose was to present the problem of American violence and the fragility of the American Dream and how it can be so easily shattered. In order to portray his purpose, he used many rhetorical devices including syntax, diction, tone, ethos, logos and pathos. These devices allowed Capote’s novel to be different from the spectrum of other non-fiction novels and to support his purpose.

Read More
545 Words | 3 Pages

In Cold Blood Essay #2 Although Capote portrays Holcomb as a quiet, safe, little town, he displays that Holcomb was the 7th victim in the murder; therefore he exhibits that even the most safest of places can succumb to evil. Capote employs symbolism amidst the devilish acts committed against the Clutters to establish that not only Clutters fell to evil that night, Holcomb fell at the feet of evil that night as well. As Herb’s past hunting partners send off their friend through the burning of their tainted possessions, Capote goes into depth on the details of the fire: “How was it possible that such effort, such plain virtue, could overnight be reduced to this--smoke, thinning as it rose and was received by the big, annihilating sky”(Capote 79).

Read More
802 Words | 4 Pages

It’s Sunday and it’s the Clutter’s funeral. School is cancelled so all of the kids may go to the funeral. Over a thousand people attend the Clutter funeral. As Susan Kidwell stood there and stared at her best friend, Nancy Clutter, she couldn’t help herself from crying.

Read More
758 Words | 4 Pages

Nature versus nurture is one of the most controversial debates in contemporary psychology. The debate concerning whether or not humans are born with the preset characteristics that will shape lives for years to come or whether actions are a result of the events and the environment that pave the way for our behavioral characteristics. Capote’s “In Cold Blood” gives the audience a detailed look into the upbringing of the character Perry Smith, creating a sympathetic outlook towards his past and attempting to bring a sense of understanding as to how a seemingly harmless young man could brutally murder four innocent people. In the case of Perry Smith, nurture was the cause of his actions in regards to the Clutter family murders.

Read More
838 Words | 4 Pages

Truman Capote’s novel, In Cold Blood epitomizes the shifting sentiments related to the murder of the Clutter family which range from terror, to sorrow, to pride, and all mixed emotions in between. Yet through Capote’s particular descriptions about each character, the connection between their feelings and their actions become further clarified. In effect, the readers experience feelings of sympathy for the victims, their friends and family, the investigators, and even the brutal murders of the innocent family. In order to craft this association, Capote employs a pathos appeal to amplify the audience’s ability to sympathize with each and every character.

Read More
164 Words | 1 Pages

Al Dewey, in In Cold blood, published in September 25, 1965, is displaying exasperation and aggravation towards not being able to acquire sufficient evidence to help solve the case. His emotions are described as being “tense” and “frustrated”. Al waits for the call that will aid him in his search for the murderers. In Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were brutally murdered; Al Dewey was one of the officers on the case.

Read More
178 Words | 1 Pages

Ursula Dubosarsky uses historic references in her book to create a haunting mystery, that intriguingly adds depth to the eerie book. Ronald Ryan was the last man to be hung by order of the court in 1967. Ursula Dubosarsky mentions Ronald Ryan at the beginning of the book “the year began with the hanging of one man, and ended with the drowning of another” (Dubosarsky, page 3). The man that she is referring to that was hung is in fact Ronald Ryan. When Cubby, Icara, Martine and Bethany are in a laneway written on the wall is “Who Killed Juanita?”

Read More
679 Words | 3 Pages

However, the two murderers never took the time to find out more about the Clutter family. Once they realized there was no fortune, Dick did not mind. Dick’s motive for remaining inside the Clutter home was he knew there was a young girl living in the house. His motive was to rape the young girl, Nancy. Nonetheless, the other murderer, Perry Smith, had no motive for killing the Clutter family after realizing there was no fortune.

Read More
135 Words | 1 Pages

Positive-: to change a testimony by removing parts that might offend people “ Dewey admits it, but he adds that except for an apparently somewhat expurgated version of his own conduct, Hickock’s story supports Smith’s.” (243) Expurgated - (verb) to purge or cleanse of moral offensiveness; to amend by removing words, passages,etc.,deemed offensive or objectionable. Effect = This passage implies that Dewey expurgated the real version of what really happened with Nancy Clutter because he thought that saying the true would offend others.

Read More
573 Words | 3 Pages

Although he ended up being one of the murderers of the Clutter family, the readers often felt sorry for him. In the beginning of the novel the reader finds out that Perry was actually very nervous about committing the crime, he and Dick were on the road to do. Capote made it seem like Perry

Read More
871 Words | 4 Pages

I’m writing a book on the murder of the Clutter family and had been following the tracks of the killers, Perry and Dick, from even before they arrived in that innocent town,” he explained politely and he neared the door. “Oh, and don’t worry. I won’t use your real name. Good life, Mr.Bell.”

Read More
512 Words | 3 Pages

Imagine you are living in a small town everything is ok until one night a local family is murdered mand know one know who did it. Would this scenario horrify you would you panic or would you look for answers well this scenario is exactly what happened in the book “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote. This book starts out with the lives of the Clutter family and Dick and Perry. It then goes on to tell the story that Dick and Perry killed the Clutter family. Eventually near the end of the book Dick and Perry confessed to the murder.

Read More
497 Words | 2 Pages

I walk over to Nora 's cozy chair, and sit down. The bottom of the chair has a slight bump, stand back up, and put my hand on the cushion. I feels hard, as if there 's something hiding underneath it. I take a chance and lift up the chair cushion, to see if there is indeed anything hiding under there. In the middle of the frame of the chair.

Read More
1177 Words | 5 Pages

Facts and Fiction: A Manipulation of Language in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood English is a fascinating and riveting language. Subtle nuances and adjustments can easily change the understanding of a literary work—a technique many authors employ in order to evoke a desired response from their readers. This method is used especially in In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, a literary work which details a true event about the murders of four members of the Clutter family in the small community of Holcomb, Kansas, in 1959. Although Capote’s 1966 book was a bestseller nonfiction and had successfully garnered acclaim for its author, there is still a great deal of confusion about the distinction between the factual and fictional aspects in the book.

Read More

More about Alvin Dewey Case Study

Related Topics

Open Document