Analysis of Truman Capote´s In Cold Blood

Truman Capote put-to-words a captivating tale of two monsters who committed four murders in cold blood. However, despite their atrocities, Capote still managed to sway his readers into a mood of compassion. Although, his tone may have transformed several times throughout the book, his overall purpose never altered.

Truman began the novel with a chapter of exposition. His main purpose of this segment was to describe the victims, which he did by writing in an ominous tone. This tone acting primarily as a foreshadowing of what the reader knew would come. Capote was heightening the suspense. The readers knew the Clutters would die, but the family lived blissfully oblivious of what was yet to come. Capote often executed this ominous tone by stating that it would be Mr. Clutters last day, or Nancy's last pie etc. This only heighted the anticipation, the tension, and of course the expectation of what was yet to come. Finally, nearing the end of the chapter, Capote continues with the ominous tone by switching viewpoints between the victims and the murders. As the actual murder grew closer, the viewpoints switched more rapidly. This gave the readers an almost simultaneous, birds-eye view of the Clutters' fate. Over all, this ominous tone definitely slanted in support for the victims. A reader could only find himself loathing the murderers who committed this monstrous crime. However, this loathing changes as the tone changes.

Capote transitions next into a reflective and somewhat didactic tone in the second chapter. The author begins to give the reader a more in-depth understanding of every character's situation and opinion. This chapter has a sequence of interviews with the townspeople which better illustrates the public ...

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...n who obviously showed no signs of knowing it themselves. Moreover, this was perhaps his primary purpose.

As stated, Capote frequently delved into the lives of the cold-blooded killers. He made it a point to illustrate all of the hardships that each of them chronically faced. In the beginning of the novel, Capote used his ominous tone to stir up hate toward the killers. However, by the end, his tone was completely solemn, somber, and even sorrowful. This might be to serve an underlying purpose. Perhaps Capote himself truly opposed the death penalty? Although Capote stressed so vehemently the horrors of the Clutters' cold-blooded murders, Capote was trying to convey that their murders were not the only ones committed in cold blood. He was stating that the death penalty was also a form of cold-blooded killing, one that served no other purpose besides revenge.