This site discusses the question of sanity vs insanity as well as biases and prejudices on the part of Capote. The source makes clear that even nonfiction novels are bound to be subliminally prejudiced; in this case, Capote tries to subconsciously explain away and bring sympathy for the killers.
As late as 1962, Capote was still sticking to his original script - in public, at least. "My book isn't a crime story," he told Newsweek. "It's the story of a town." By then, however, he knew the two murderers were central to the story he wanted to tell, that they would give it texture, urgency and shape.
As late as 1962, Capote was still sticking to his original script - in public, at least. "My book isn't a crime story," he told Newsweek. "It's the story of a town." By then, however, he knew the two murderers were central to the story he wanted to tell, that they would give it texture, urgency and shape.
Gives an overview of Capote's life and the struggles he had to face growing up as a child. His life seems to end up a fairytale with him becoming a literary and social icon.
Describes Capote's childhood, which interestingly parallels the upbringings of the Monster and Perry. Abandoned by his mother, Capote was often isolated as a young child. However he turned his attention to writing and playing piano rather than getting revenge. Capote became an instant celebrity in his early 20s and his life was a success, unlike the lives of Perry and the Monster
Gives an overview of Capotes life which we learn nearly nothing about, his relationship with perry which is obviously sympathetic is somewhat odd, and after reading of his early nice, seeing the movement of his family and the divorce of his parents it makes you wonder if that sympathy stems from a connection he sees between himself and perry.
Talks about the reasons behind Capotes desires to write about a murder case, actual information from an interview where he tells all... essentially. He makes it somewhat obvious that a large factor in his writing of the murder was that he was try to start and did somewhat a new wave of writing, "new journalism"
This shows that Capote was able to interact and understand the truth of Perrys isolation and irrationality. He shows this in his writing through proof of his bad parents and neglectful childhood
Capote's childhood was in fact very similiar to Perry's. His birth parents had a very unstable relationship. He did not have a strong connection to his father. Capote also spent some time at a Catholic school.
Capote discusses again about his new genre of writing that he pioneered. He talks about how to blur the lines of reality and fiction without sacrificing key facts.
"Irony is, in fact, one of Capote's major techniques, and he achieves it by juxtaposing the circumstances of the killers to those of the Clutter family."
This article discusses the main themes of In Cold Blood and general information about the novel. Background information is evident in the article including the relationship Capote had with Dick and Perry. The theme of irony is evident throughout the whole novel such as a robbery with no money. This article supports an essay including the major themes of In Cold Blood.
Capote’s meticulous research—he had even befriended the murderers, Dick Hickock
and Perry Smith, for five years before their execution in 1965—resulted in a
literary landmark.
This quote shows the relationship that had developed between Capote and the murderers. Thus this leads to his in depth analysis of them and the understanding of their irrationality
"Nina had never been close to Truman, chiefly because she was embarrassed by his effeminate ways. She terminated two pregnancies she conceived by Joe, saying, 'I will not have another child like Truman and if I do have another child, it will be like Truman.'"
This source provides an overview of Capote's life. It provides a little explanation to why Capote connected so well with Perry, as they both had very neglected childhoods.
"Through flashbacks we learn that both Dick and Perry have been physically deformed in accidents. Dick was in a car accident in 1950. "It was as though his head had been halved like an apple, then put together a fraction off center … the left eye being truly serpentine, with a venomous, sickly-blue squint …" (Capote 43). Perry's injuries, acquired in a motorcycle accident in 1952, are more serious: "… his chunky, dwarfish legs, broken in five places and pitifully scarred, still pained him so severely that he had become an aspirin addict" (Capote 43)"
This source gives a thorough overview of the nonfiction novel. This part specifically focuses on the fact that both Perry and Dick sustained injuries through accidents. This makes them both seem more monster like.
g Smith and Hickock: namely, a complete disregard for human life. Each man knows that society says it is wrong to kill another person, but they simply do not care. Capote insinuates that this lack of compassion for others is itself a type of insanity.
This source reviews ICB, remarking that it does a stellar job at discussing the insanity of the killers, who do not feel any remorse, regard, or compassion in taking the lives of others. They are not 'technically' criminally insane; they know exactly what they are doing. Their insanity is a different type, a sort of detached lack of human capabilities, as they fail to regard life with any import or significance.
Talks more so about the movie but gives interesting insights into what Capote thought of the movie which helps provide a more detailed understanding of his mind and how he views things, such as his relationships with dick and perry.
His romantic escapism (he dreams of diving for treasure but cannot swim, imagines himself a famous tap dancer but has hopelessly maimed legs) becomes comprehensible in the light of his homeless, brutalized background, more bizarre than any fiction; his undoing is elaborately plausible.
This quote shows the irrationality of perrys thoughts for they do not make sense as he hopes to dive for treasure but cannot swim. This also goes into the effects of his childhood.
Discusses similarities within Frankenstein and In cold Blood. One major theme in the two books is how isolation affects the human mind and the detrimental effects a neglected child can have once he or she enters society.