prominent author in American history, Truman Capote, approached this sensitive topic in his award-winning novel: In Cold Blood. In the novel, two men known as Dick Hickock and Perry Smith murder the unsuspecting Clutter family in their obscure town of Holcomb, Kansas. Once caught and proved guilty with numerous pieces of evidence, the criminals are put on trial and ultimately sentenced to death row. However, their fates are questioned for nearly six years before they are finally executed. Throughout his…
Words 962 - Pages 4
of our societies. Truman Capote’s 1966 novel, In Cold Blood, serves as a prime example of this by allowing readers a peak into the complex minds of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. Although Truman Capote’s seminal piece, In Cold Blood, has been criticized for its inaccuracies, it still holds incredible value. In Cold Blood not only revived the nonfiction novel genre, but more importantly provided commentary on dividing issues such as the death penalty and social inequalities. Capote not only resurrected…
Words 878 - Pages 4
America Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” provides a brief glimpse into the mind of a killer by delving into their private inner thoughts, life experiences and possible motivations during and after they commit these horrendous crimes. Capital punishment is a widely and openly discussed topic across America today, but in the early to mid-1900 period the argument was barely debated. Capital punishment in America would change dramatically after Capote’s “In Cold Blood” brought crime and direct criminal…
Words 1011 - Pages 5
The death penalty can be classified as a controversial topic because people either find it justified or immoral. Both sides always seem to bring up the same points in each argument, but Truman Capote shows these arguments in a whole new light. Truman Capote has a strong opposition to the death penalty and effectively conveys this via his writing style in In Cold Blood where the two killers, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, are sentenced to be hung. This opposition can be seen with the precision in detail…
Words 577 - Pages 3
IN COLD BLOOD ESSAY The phrase “in cold blood” means to be killed with no motive, mercy, or justice. In Capote’s book, he explains the murders of the clutter family that are killed in cold blood; not only the victims, but the murders themselves. The Clutter family was murdered in cold blood for the simple reason that they were made to suffer unnecessary mental and physical pain. The way they were killed was inhumane and savage. The fact that the Clutter family was tied up and literally psychologically…
Words 759 - Pages 4
options, one of which is the death penalty. This option of chastisement is viewed by some people as a valid solution, yet as an unwise action by others. Truman Capote, author of the nonfiction novel “In Cold Blood,” dives into the quadruple murder of a Kansas family by two men: Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. Though it is often considered a “cruel and unusual” punishment, the death penalty was the proper course of action for the malefactions of Dick and Perry. The death penalty, first established in the…
Words 346 - Pages 2
Is the death penalty a fully practical and/or appropriate form of justification for one’s criminal wrongdoing(s)? In Truman Capote’s novel, In Cold Blood, it is argued whether or not the two main antagonists, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, truly deserved the death penalty for murdering the Clutter family. Although some may agree that Dick and Perry did deserve the death penalty, they did not because their trial was unfair, capital punishment does not deter crime, and there could have been better alternatives…
Words 581 - Pages 3
That is exactly what Truman Capote answers in his novel In Cold Blood. In an attempt to establish a new genre of crime writing, Capote reveals the murder in the opening paragraphs, and the killers are made known within the first chapter. This is done in order to establish the book as a non-fiction novel, in which there are no victims and villains, but multiple characters with their own stories. In most crime novels preceding In Cold Blood, the story is presented in the form…
Words 639 - Pages 3
Coloma High School. Today I would like to address a serious topic: the death penalty. Life is seen as a wonderful gift. We all have views based on the pros and cons that are placed within the idea. Sitting here today, I would like to explain my argument that explains how the death penalty is unethical. Many may wonder why my argument is against the death penalty. My leading argument is truly placed on the idea that the death penalty is too expensive, while it doesn't determine the true extent of the…
Words 785 - Pages 4
Study Guide for In Cold Blood Name Description (Physical/Personal Traits) Relevance (role, important actions, words etc.) Herb Clutter Bonnie Clutter Nancy Clutter Kenyon Clutter Bobby Rupp Susan Kidwell Name Description (Physical/Personal Traits) Relevance (role, important actions, words etc.) Alvin Dewey Harold Nye Roy Church Clarence Duntz Tex John Smith Willie-Jay Floyd Wells Lowell Lee Andrews Mr. Helms Alfred…
Words 1439 - Pages 6