In Cold Blood and the Hollandsburg Murders The tragic tale that happened In Cold Blood can be linked to multiple cases that has happened in the United States. One that hits close to home, is the Hollandsburg Murders. Both of the murders happened without cause and left both communities terrified. These type of killings were unheard during their times. Terrifying a population to the point of not trusting a neighbor. These disgraceful acts against innocent people, has been a constant reminder for people for many years. The book, In Cold Blood, has sold millions of to the reading community, even though it is actually based on factual murders. In Cold Blood is based on the true killing of the Clutter family in 1959. Truman Capote ,with the help …show more content…
Hollandsburg, February 14, 1977, a trailer had become one of the most gruesome scenes in Indiana. Leading a group of four men, Roger Drollinger attack the home of Betty Jane Spencer. Betty was home alone with her son and her other three stepsons when the attack happened. She ,and her sons, were lined up in a row on the floor and had 11 shots fired into them with a shotgun. She was lucky enough to have a wig on that day, because the last shot blew of the wig off instead of her head. That lead to make the assailants believe that she was died. Betty was the only survivor that night. As the case ended, all four man sent to life in prison. As the case developed, it turned twisted and evil, because turns out the the men responsible for the crimes went in just to kill those people. There was no alternative …show more content…
The gruesomeness of the crime that riddled the town , the nation, in shock. These two murders destroyed the trust that both communities had within one another. The innocents of the people were taken and now they thought the worst of their next door neighbor. These men, in both cases, did not think, or care, of the consequences and did what they wanted to do. In both murders, there was a leader like person in charge. In Cold Blood, the leader seemed to be Dick, while in the Hollandsburg Massacre it was Roger Drollinger. They seemed to provoke, lead, and do what they “thought” was best. In the end, it did not matter, because both parties of criminals got in put. The Hollansburg killers got put in sooner than the duo of Dick and Perry, but in the end both parties ended up
‘In Cold Blood’ demonstrates that compassion must be extended to both victims and their killers’ Discuss Truman Capote, through his celebrated nonfiction work ‘In Cold Blood’ depicts the events preceding and following the brutal murder of the prominent Clutter family of Holcomb, Kansas, 1959. The text clearly emphasizes that compassion must be extended to all victims of the violent crime. The term ‘victim’ is not exclusively reserved for the murdered but is extended to the family, friends and the entire community of Holcomb. To a lesser extent, Capote demonstrates that compassion should be shown to one of the killers. Capote challenges the reader to become compassionate towards Perry Edward Smith, despite knowing he murdered four innocent
Although he is branded as the murder, Truman Capote sympathetically describes Perry throughout the novel as a pitiable character. Firstly, Capote begins by referring to Perry’s atrocious childhood as a way to emphasize on the trauma he suffered as a young boy. We learn that Smith’s parents were divorced and thus had to live with his mother, whom was a heavy alcoholic. He was ultimately sent to a Catholic orphanage where we learn Perry suffered due to the beatings he would get from the nuns: “always at him. Hitting him” (page one hundred and thirty two).
Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood is a nonfiction novel that starts in the town of Holcomb, Kansas. The story begins by introducing the Clutter family and shifts back and forth with the plot of the murderers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock. The Clutter family is described as a kind, hard-working, and responsible family that receives great respect from everyone including those in their neighborhood and church.
Truman Capote’s classic true crime novel, In Cold Blood, examines the definitions of murder and capital punishment and questions whether any form of death or act of aggression is justifiable. The book documents the vicious murders of the Clutter family from the small town of Holcomb, the execution of the two men that killed them, and the antipathy surrounding the community’s response to these men. By painting a candid portrait of the murderers and the reactions of the town, Capote brings light to the irony and hypocrisy of death as an antidote to death. In the context of this novel, the phrase “in cold blood” is shown through these crimes by the lack of empathy and moral qualms involved in both of these killings. With this explanation in mind,
The sheriff has to figure out who did it before a man named Fix comes up and tries to lynch one, or possibly more, of the old men. He uses many literary elements to explore the issue, which is essential
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, epitomizes the varying sentiments associated with the murder of the Clutter family; these emotions range from shock, to grief, to pride, and everything in between. However, through Capote’s specialized descriptions about each character, the relationships between their feelings and their actions become further elucidated. As a result, the readers begin to feel sympathy for the victims, their friends and family, the investigators, and even those who brutally murdered an innocent family. In order to create this connection, he utilizes the rhetoric device of pathos to strengthen the audience’s ability to sympathize.
Violence is often incorporated in media as a means of entertainment; however, there are certain instances where the use of violence crosses a line. It is up for debate on when this line would be reached and when the violence would be considered too extreme. In these cases, it may be necessary for schools to remove such literature from their libraries and from their curriculum. In Cold Blood is an example of literature that has been deemed questionable by several parents; therefore, banning this novel has been a popular topic of discussion in many different school districts. In Cold Blood tells the true story of the Clutter family, who were savagely murdered in their own home.
In Cold Blood, written by Truman Capote in 1966 tells the story of the murder of a prominent family in 60’s Kansas. Capote traveled to the small town of Holcomb, and befriended many of the townsfolk and the detectives involved in the trial to tell the story of a violent event that shaped this community for the decade until the eventual conviction and execution of the killers. Because of information being told, Capote makes the choice of writing his novel as if it were a news report. This journalistic structure and word choice helps to establish the serious and dark tone of the novel.
He was able to fully commit his murder because he knew how to talk to her from the start, having stalked her for some time. These two stories are important because it shows how people can be so unaware to the
In In Cold Blood, the issue over the death penalty is prominent. Did Perry and Dick deserve to die? Should the severity of one’s crime determine one’s fate? Although Truman Capote writes the novel in a straightforward, “from a distance” way, he conveys, through his characters, theme, and plot development, that the death penalty is an issue that should be looked at from all sides and that the legal system itself is the real issue at hand, and that the death penalty is used as a means to suppress the distress and indignation of the citizens surrounding the case, instead of suppressing the victim himself.
How crazy would it be to interview criminals who murdered 4 people in cold blood? Well that’s exactly what Truman Capote did in this chilling book. In the novel In Cold Blood, Truman Capote used different rhetorical strategies to create sympathy and influence the idea that there are always two sides to every story. Some of the mainly used rhetorical strategies throughout the novel were imagery, diction, tone, and pathos. Furthermore, Capote also illustrated sympathetical emotion towards both types of characters, the protagonists and antagonists.
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, is a non-fiction true crime. In Cold Blood is about two murderers, Dick and Perry, who heard a rumor about a household possessing $5,000 and they wanted the money. Little did they know there was not any money and they got caught for murder to get nothing in the end. They ended up serving jail time and sentenced to hang till death.
The exigence of In Cold Blood comes from the brutal murder of Mr.Clutter, his wife and, two youngest children. The reason for the killings are not known unlike the killers themselves, so the reader thrives off that suspense. Audience: In Cold Blood is not a mystery, the killers are known from the start. The “non-fiction novel,” combines the materials of journalism with the techniques of naturalistic fiction.
Truman Capote’s novel, In Cold Blood, depicts his extensive research and interviews conducted regarding the murder of a successful farmer and his family from Holcomb, Kansas. Capote’s rigorous research twisted into an obsession as he dedicated nearly six years to studying every miniscule aspects of the Capote-killer's mentality in hopes to provide a contrary point of view of the murders’ intimate lives . Through this, Capote sways the reader to sympathize with Perry because of his troubled past. Capote wants the reader to see and understand that Perry’s upbringing influenced his mental state during the time of the murder, and he stresses to the reader to comprehend the flaws in the judicial system and for society to see how people who suffer
No matter how we try to change our situation or better ourselves in society, variables will obstruct the path we choose. One cannot take control of everything that surrounds us as fate decides what happens to us. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote explains the murder of the Clutter family in the quiet town of Holcomb, Kansas. The murderers, Richard (Dick) Hickock and Perry Smith, try to escape the consequences of their actions, believing that they can get away with what they did. The story tells what the murderers were thinking after and before they committed the crime and their various interactions.