In Cold Blood Essay

In Cold Blood is a nonfiction novel by Truman Capote, first published in 1966. The book’s content narrates the account of the savage killing of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, in 1959. Capote spent six years researching and interviewing the people involved in the case, and the resulting book is a detailed account of the crime and its aftermath, as well as a portrait of the two killers, Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith. “It seems that for Capote the American society has always been intrigued by the phenomenon of crime, the mystery surrounding it, as well as the suspense connected with crime stories” (Wróbel 8). Capote effectively establishes a sense of intimacy with the characters and their motives through his immersive and descriptive

Truman Capote was an American author, screenwriter, and playwright born in New Orleans and spent much of his childhood in Alabama. He gained a reputation for his flamboyant personality and connections with New York City’s social elite. Capote struggled with addiction and alcoholism throughout his life but remained a literary icon and trailblazer in true crime writing. He died in 1984 at 59 in Los Angeles, California. Before his passing, Capote wrote In Cold Blood to captivate the downfall of the American dream, the nature of evil, and the role of the legal system’s failure and its influence on the murderers.

Undoubtedly, Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood portrays America as a land plagued by conflicting desires, patriarchal structures, and moral ambiguity. As Capote suggests, “America is not a harmonious land of prosperity but a place tormented by desires, ravaged by

Soderlund quotes, “Perry is also the one that is portrayed as having second thoughts about killing the Clutter family. He constantly thinks about it and goes over every detail in his mind. Perry says he never really thought he could do such a thing” (Soderlund 21). Even though he was a perpetrator of the crime, this quote portrays Perry having second thoughts and experiencing intense psychological distress about his actions. This portrayal provides insight into the multifaceted nature of evil and how it can have profound psychological effects on those who perpetrate it. The quote speaks to the nature of evil and how it can manifest in individuals differently. His constant reflection and second thoughts about the crime suggest that he may have been grappling with guilt and remorse, which is common in violent individuals. The quote also suggests that Smith may have been a product of his environment, shaped by his traumatic experiences and challenging circumstances throughout his life. This idea suggests that various external factors can influence a person to become evil rather than evil being inherent to an