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Rhetorical Analysis In Cold Blood

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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. By using a multitude of tones to describe every facet of those involved, whether it is their childhood, their family, or their emotions, he succeeds in creating these multidimensional personalities that many can relate to. Bobby Rupp, Nancy’s boyfriend and Perry Smith, one of the murderers, are two people who readers sympathize with due to their unique characterization; although they are both nonfictional, Capote’s ability to accentuate specific traits makes them more relatable. Bobby Rupp is introduced as the “school basketball hero”, and “dependable “for his age; Capote not only emphasizes his maturity, but also his emotional condition after the murders. It is clear that Bobby loves Nancy dearly, and her death puts him in a state of shock; “He was ill, grief had made him so, that grief had drawn a circle around

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