Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

At What Cost?

“No one will ever know what In Cold Blood took out of me,” Capote once said. “It scraped me right down to the marrow of my bones. It nearly killed me. I think, in a way, it did kill me.” Truman Capote learned his own hard lesson that “More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones” in writing In Cold Blood. Capote’s interest in writing an article on his fascination over the impact of brutal, senseless murders in a rural community rapidly transforms into pure obsession to write a novel that would revolutionize the literary world. This leads him to significantly change his behavior in a destructive manner and ultimately this negatively impacts his life. In the movie Capote, Truman blithely told Alvin
He quickly learns to lie to obtain information and does not seem to have any issue in exaggerating facts or even manipulating those that he is interviewing. An example of this behavior is when Smith confronts Capote about the title of his book and Capote lies stating that his editor named the book. He even stoops to unethical behavior when he bribes a prison warden at Leavenworth with money so that he has unlimited access to meet with Smith. It was callous knowing that Capote was on precipice of his utmost success in his career as Smith says goodbye to Capote as he heads to his hanging
He convinces himself that he is just being a good friend to Smith who is in need. It portrays his true selfishness and his destructive motivations that lead him to no longer listen to those he loves and trusts. Capote rejects the wisdom of his long-term friend, Harper Lee and even of his male companion back in New York City. His male lover warns him to be careful what he does and what he does to get it. Harper Lee, his friend and associate is disgusted at Capote when he states that there was not anything that he could do to save Smith and Hickock. She replied that that fact is that he really did not want to. He unfortunately is blinded by his own ambitions and does not want to admit that he is using others around him to reach his goal. His self-centered choices negatively impact his