The Chilling Opening of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

The definition of ‘chilling’ according to the dictionary is defined as “make someone or thing feel cold.” The title ‘In Cold Blood’ is chilling because it makes the reader shiver with agitation and immediately gives them a sense of repulsion because the idea of cold blood is disturbing since blood gives you life and warmth. “a sudden ‘case of blood bubbles’?” Capote contrasts this to the title and creates a horrific image in relation to the title. In Cold Blood is a true account of a multiple murder case in Holcomb, Kansas and is told from two alternating perspectives, the Clutter family who are the victims and the two murderers, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. The way Capote structures the first section is powerful and it allows the reader to relive both sides of the nonfiction novel because the reader can experience two different viewpoints.

In the opening of In Cold Blood, Capote introduces the village of Holcomb as a simple and unexciting place. “a lonesome area...The land is flat...the streets, unnamed, unshaded, unpaved.” Capote uses vivid imagery to create a tone of fascination to give the reader an impression that many secrets are hidden behind this charmingly primitive location and it also allows the reader to be open minded and to imagine things. At one end, the town is described as old and isolated. “one end of the town stands a stark old stucco-structure...but the dancing has ceased and the advertisement has been dark for several years.” Capote emphasises that the town is separated from the rest of the world and causes the reader to be suspicious for what might be hidden in this mysterious town.

Capote presents the Clutters as a traditional nuclear family, well known, highly respected and loyal to the community....

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... I knew that, and I’d only been in Holcomb a little more than two months.” Capote gives an idea that the Clutters were probably the most talked about family in the village. The town’s most prominent family was murdered. Everyone in and around the town became scared because if such evil could happen to the Clutter family, then what would happen to them?

There are some scenes in the first section of In Cold Blood that frightens me, but the scene I found most frightening was how they found each member of the Clutter family dead. This scene had a real impact on me for some reason and I think it’s how Truman Capote presents the facts of this shocking murder case. I think it is chilling because it seems so realistic, probably because it is a true account and this murder case did actually happen and is not a simple, fictional story produced by an author’s imagination.