Analysis Of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood
Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood details the sudden, brutal murder of a family in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. In this excerpt, Capote chronicles the morning after the crime. Through the use of narrative and juxtaposition, Capote describes the unforeseen tragic murder of the Clutter family. These techniques, along with the use of connotation and diction, emphasize the shock of the murders while providing a pathos appeal.
Capote begins by explaining that “...by nine [on a Sunday morning]... [nothing was noticeably amiss on the Clutters’ property],” and “the sun had risen… [for] another day of… perfection.” Capote also explains that the Ewalt’s “custom” of dropping Nancy Ewalt off at the Clutter’s had gone awry when they were unable to reach …show more content…
Capote may have also used this to keep the reader questioning if or when the murder would happen, or to exemplify how drawn out and (juxtaposingly) tragic the Clutter’s murders had been. The sudden details of there being “too much blood,” and that “the [phone] line had been cut,” also introduces to the reader how shockingly gruesome the scene must have been, as well as implying foul play, which adds to the unexpectedness of the crime. In addition, the simplicity of the words used in this passage could have emphasized the juxtaposition that may be made between the simplicity and light-heartedness of the description, and the harsh and tragic aftermath of the murder of the Clutter family. The connotation in this excerpt along with the diction, support the overall pathos appeal that was made through the shock of the murders and the juxtapositions between the Clutter’s and how they died.
In this excerpt of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, the use of narrative and juxtaposition are the main rhetorical techniques that emphasize how unexpected and tragic the murder of the Clutter family was. Capote’s connotation and diction also support the suddenness of the murders, while also highlighting the tragic loss of lives. These rhetorical techniques, when used in conjunction, present a pathos
Capote begins by explaining that “...by nine [on a Sunday morning]... [nothing was noticeably amiss on the Clutters’ property],” and “the sun had risen… [for] another day of… perfection.” Capote also explains that the Ewalt’s “custom” of dropping Nancy Ewalt off at the Clutter’s had gone awry when they were unable to reach …show more content…
Capote may have also used this to keep the reader questioning if or when the murder would happen, or to exemplify how drawn out and (juxtaposingly) tragic the Clutter’s murders had been. The sudden details of there being “too much blood,” and that “the [phone] line had been cut,” also introduces to the reader how shockingly gruesome the scene must have been, as well as implying foul play, which adds to the unexpectedness of the crime. In addition, the simplicity of the words used in this passage could have emphasized the juxtaposition that may be made between the simplicity and light-heartedness of the description, and the harsh and tragic aftermath of the murder of the Clutter family. The connotation in this excerpt along with the diction, support the overall pathos appeal that was made through the shock of the murders and the juxtapositions between the Clutter’s and how they died.
In this excerpt of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, the use of narrative and juxtaposition are the main rhetorical techniques that emphasize how unexpected and tragic the murder of the Clutter family was. Capote’s connotation and diction also support the suddenness of the murders, while also highlighting the tragic loss of lives. These rhetorical techniques, when used in conjunction, present a pathos