Fear, Fear And Violence In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

Time froze on September 11th , 2001. The horrendous event that took place on this day shocked the world. Fear, horror and grief were felt during and after this ‘cold blooded’ crime was committed. Time also froze on November 15, 1959. This was the day that the Clutter family was brutally murdered in Holcomb, Kansas. Although this crime is much smaller than 9/11 it still brought fear to a town that once had its doors unlocked. Truman Capote wrote about this murder in his book In Cold Blood. It explains how Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith were able to commit these appalling crimes. Their cold blooded nature is perfectly depicted in the way they executed these murders. Dialogue and symbolism were used to validate their inhuman attitude.

Nothing in the way they were buying the rope indicates that they were planning to annihilate a whole family that night. Showing that they are unsympathetic, insensitive, hardened killers. Normal people would not talk as calmly as they did when talking about how much rope they needed to buy to kill the Clutters. The way they spoke was as if they were asking about how much food they needed to buy. Even after the killings they showed no emotions towards the atrocious acts they committed. Mr. Smith even went as far as saying “’I wish the hell my sister had been in that house’” (page 143) to which Mr. Hickock responded by saying: “’I keep thinking what fun if my second wife had been there. Her, and all her goddam family’” (page 143). This proves that even after the crime they felt no pity or shame of what they did and the only regret they have is that the people they dislike were not there. Only inhuman people could act and feel this way towards their family and their victims. This cold blooded nature is also seen after Mr. Hickock and Mr. Smith were arrested. During Mr. Smith’s confession Alvin Dewey, an investigator for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said that Mr. Hickock “himself says he wouldn’t harm the fleas on a dog” (page 232). To which Perry replies by saying that Dick “wouldn’t harm the fleas on a dog. Just run over the dog” (page 232). Meaning he

The members of the Clutter family were all tied up in different ways. Nancy’s “hands were tied behind her, and her ankles were roped together with the kind of cord you see on Venetian blinds” (page 62). The way the rope was tied indicates that the killers spent the least amount of time on this poor innocent girl. As if they felt bad or sorry for her, but a cold blooded murder like them does not feel anything towards their victim. Mrs. Clutter, on the other hand was tied up “differently—with her hands in front of her, so that she looked as though she were praying—and in one hand she was gripping, a handkerchief. Or a Kleenex? The cord around her wrists ran down to her ankles, which were bound together, and then ran on down to the bottom of the bed” (page 63). This description provided by Mr. Ewalt (which was the man to call the police,) suggest that they spent more time on her. Mr. Ewalt even goes on saying that the rope work was “very complicated, artful piece of work” (page 63) and that it would have taken a long time to complete. This was due to them enjoying the feeling of authority they have over their prey. Also the fear and helplessness that resonated out of Mrs. Clutter. The way her eyes portrayed said fear excited these men into taking their time and enjoying every moment until the final instant. Mr. Smith confirms this excitement when confessing to the crime. He says that “you couldn’t