Frankenstein and In Cold Blood: Themes of Questionable Motives in Both Novels
Explore the theme of Questionable Motives in 'Frankenstein' and 'In Cold Blood'
The non-fiction novel 'In Cold Blood' reconstructs the murder of a Kansas family in 1959,murderers Perry Smith and Richard Hitchcock soon become the center of Capote's novel,which pioneered the new journalism movement.The Gothic novel 'Frankenstein' is the disturbing story of an unnatural creation which was highly controversial when published,in 1818.The creature represents the consequences of meddling with God's creations.Because of the scientific advancements at the time,Frankenstein would have been viewed as a frightening tale.
The extract i have used from In Cold Blood is a letter Perry has written describing his childhood;flashbacks are used by Capote in his book to build character development and therefore increase the readers interest in the novel-urging them to read on.Capote is selecting when he give information as he doesn't want to give away all the secrets.We find out perry was ' very severely beaten' ,the climax of the novel was when the killers where caught and described the clutters murder.However, through Capotes clever use of an un-chronological narrative,the reader discovers Perry's abusive past, intensifying per-modifiers such as 'severely' stress the brutality of abuse. interest shifts to Perry's mentality leading the reader wanting to discover Perry's fate.Authority is created through my extract as the letter is primary information therefore reliable.Full dialogue and strong declarative sentences-'Then,because Dr Jones had told him he must have the statement that very afternoon,Smith skipped forward'. Capote uses information and declaratives to make his novel seem authentic and highly factual,the reader is reminded the murders are a true event.'Then' marks a tense shift Capote cleverly uses to construct his story, giving away information when he wants.Mary Shelley uses multiple narrative , so that the reader can shape their own opinion of the protagonists.
The non-fiction novel 'In Cold Blood' reconstructs the murder of a Kansas family in 1959,murderers Perry Smith and Richard Hitchcock soon become the center of Capote's novel,which pioneered the new journalism movement.The Gothic novel 'Frankenstein' is the disturbing story of an unnatural creation which was highly controversial when published,in 1818.The creature represents the consequences of meddling with God's creations.Because of the scientific advancements at the time,Frankenstein would have been viewed as a frightening tale.
The extract i have used from In Cold Blood is a letter Perry has written describing his childhood;flashbacks are used by Capote in his book to build character development and therefore increase the readers interest in the novel-urging them to read on.Capote is selecting when he give information as he doesn't want to give away all the secrets.We find out perry was ' very severely beaten' ,the climax of the novel was when the killers where caught and described the clutters murder.However, through Capotes clever use of an un-chronological narrative,the reader discovers Perry's abusive past, intensifying per-modifiers such as 'severely' stress the brutality of abuse. interest shifts to Perry's mentality leading the reader wanting to discover Perry's fate.Authority is created through my extract as the letter is primary information therefore reliable.Full dialogue and strong declarative sentences-'Then,because Dr Jones had told him he must have the statement that very afternoon,Smith skipped forward'. Capote uses information and declaratives to make his novel seem authentic and highly factual,the reader is reminded the murders are a true event.'Then' marks a tense shift Capote cleverly uses to construct his story, giving away information when he wants.Mary Shelley uses multiple narrative , so that the reader can shape their own opinion of the protagonists.