Analysis Of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

Mid -November, 1959 in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas a family of four was brutally murdered in cold blood. The Clutter family represented the traditional all-American family, which consisted of a Kansas farmer, his wife and their two children. The innocent town of Holcomb was astonished when the news of the quadruple homicide struck. Truman Capote the author of In Cold Blood was adamant to reveal the truth surrounding the story of the murder. By writing this book from the perspective of the killers Truman Capote gave an insight into the minds of the killers, something not commonly experienced. There has been speculation from people that wish to take In Cold Blood off the shelves of libraries because they do not feel it is appropriate. In

“The land is flat, and the views are awesomely extensive; horses, herds of cattle, a white cluster of grain elevators rising as gracefully as Greek temples are visible long before a traveler reaches them”(Capote 3). In this excerpt Truman Capote is alluding to the Greek civilization because he mentions the “Greek Temples”. During the 6th to 8th century the Greeks faced many difficulties, which led to their downfall. This quote also has examples of imagery to emphasize how peaceful the Greek civilization was and even describes it as “graceful…” however this would be ironic because Greek civilizations mostly experienced violence. By describing Kansas, the setting of the book as similar to Greek civilization Truman Capote is saying that Holcomb may seem “graceful” to the seeing eye, but when he/she actually “reaches” it they can actually see how dangerous it is. Keeffe P. pointed out that In Cold Blood also has biblical allusions “Though he was a good sentry, alert, ever ready to raise Cain, his valor had one flaw: let him glimpse a gun, as he did now-for the intruders were armed-and his head dropped, his tail turned in” (Capote 13). Cain is one of the sons of Adam and Eve, and he is a murderer because he killed his brother Abel. Truman Capote Describes the Clutter family as about “to raise Cain”. “Raise Cain” is an expression which means to raise hell. The use of the expression qualifies the previous description of the guard dog because while he is described as obedient and as a “good sentry” he flees when the intruders approach with their guns. The dog trying to protect himself abandons his family members when they are in real danger. Identifying Allusions and Imagery are important because it allows the reader the get the bigger picture of the literary