Sympathy For Characters In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood not only tells the story of the Clutter murders but also explains the importance of family. In the novel, the stability of a family dictates the outcome of the family members’ lives. The Clutter murders and other crimes committed by the murderous duo are direct results of their turbulent lives. The Clutter family represents innocence and the wholesomeness of a good, loving family, while Dick and especially Perry’s family lives symbolize corruption and chaos. As this familial chaos bled into their lives, it corrupted and ultimately robbed the lives of Dick Hickock and Perry

He is actually a pretty sensitive guy who has problems with his mom and dad, and he makes sacrifices for his peers. Like when they went to get the pot from John Bender’s locker and they were about to get caught. John Bender stayed behind so his friends could get back to the library without getting in trouble. John Bender’s family is really kind of the abusive type of family. John gets

As a returned World War I veteran, Shadrack is traumatized from the scenes he witnessed and took part of during his time there. Consequently, as a way to take control of his fears he institutes National Suicide Day, a day dedicated to all the negative feelings he has, so that the rest of year can be enjoyed without these negative feelings. As he shares this holiday with the townspeople it is described, “The people in the town were frightened; they knew Shadrack was crazy but that did not mean that he didn’t have any sense or, even more important, that he had no power. His eyes were so wild, his hair so long…” (Morrison 15). The townspeople are frightened because the idea behind Shadrack’s holiday is not completely unfounded, as Shadrack is capable of being crazy, as in having mental issues from the war, but also sensible, as in being able to produce intelligent thought.

In addition to everything else in his life, the deaths of his other siblings make it hard for him. What makes Smith an unsympathetic character is that he has killed before the Clutter just for spite. Smith also can seem to think for himself, it seems as though Hickock has to do most of the thinking because he himself is

This novel was an emotional read because of the unfair killing of Jefferson, but it was also a great learning experience because it teaches the reader to try and help others during difficult times. During the time that this event took place there was still racial discrimination, therefore Jefferson was not given a fair trial. He did steal the money, but he did not kill the people in the store. Jefferson knew that stealing was wrong, but he was poor and saw that no one was around to say anything so he took it. Due to this wrong decision he believes that he is a hog who deserves to die.

Tim declares, “Sometimes I forgive myself, sometimes I don’t. In the ordinary hours of life I try not to dwell on it, but now and then, when I’m reading a newspaper or just sitting alone in a room, I’ll look up and see the young man coming out of the morning fog” (Ambush). Tim O’Brien was a father, a son, and a husband, yet he was also able to kill without giving thought to the action. Afterwards, however, when presented with his family, friends, and other civilians, Tim realized the gravity of the deaths he caused. Another example of paradox was the murder that in Queens, New York, around the same period as the Vietnam War.

By solely reading, “But all I can say is that if you are willing to dig below the surface, you will discover the real Skeezie Tookis, and there you will find as big a heart as was ever produced by the little town of Paintbrush Falls, New York,” on page one and two, you can identify his benevolence towards others. Bobby constantly beats his ingenuity down, due to the fact that his father discourages it. Mike Goodspeed, Bobby’s dad, isn’t an ideal figure to idolize because once his wife died “he hit the bad times” (page 62). This included a series of alcoholism, job loss, depression, and bankruptcy, but as an attempt to cheer up his mourning son and be an exceptional father, Mr. Goodspeed shared his wife’s favorite sandwich recipe: marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, and bread. Bobby started bringing in the sandwich for lunch as a coping mechanism for his grief, but naive classmates commenced calling Bobby “Fluff” (pg.

In the original story, the ending leaves to question the intention of the Misfit. This is a key note that I wanted to hit on in my story. Not only does the misfit explain that he is not a good man, we also get to understand why he kills the Grandma. In the original story this is left up to the imagination, so I imagined a man who was greatly conflicted. The Misfit has been labeled a bad man his entire life and has learned to accept it.

Throughout the last two acts of the novel, we see Laertes change from an impulsive instigator into a more wise and rational person who realizes he is in the wrong. After he first learns of his father’s death, Laertes is seething due to his misery, and consequently, strives for immediate retaliation. Contrastingly, at the conclusion of the duel scene, he is downcast over his looming death and the fact that he has caused Hamlet’s death, while also being ashamed of how quick he was to murder. Though to some, Laertes may be a seemingly insignificant character, it is Laertes affliction (as a result of his father’s death) that ultimately drives the novel to its grievous climax. Albeit tragic, if the end scene would not have happened, Laertes would not have had the opportunity to discover that he was wrong, and thus change.

He is stubborn in resisting the truth but he still seeks for it and that is his final undoing. Wanting to know the truth is not necessarily a bad thing but it is often the cause for bad things to happen. Oedipus is a key example of this when he finally realizes that he was the one who killed his father when he is faced with his dead wife and mother. He reacts harshly to this, stabbing out his eyes and banishing himself all over again. There is no denying that Oedipus caused a lot of his pain himself with no one else to blame.