One down, three to go. I just finished my independent reading book, "In Cold Blood", this afternoon and all in all I was rather pleased with the book.
In the second half of the book Capote delved deeper into the history and the background of the killers Dick and Perry. We learned about their motives for the heinous crime and we learned about where they ventured after the murders took place. From Kansas to Las Vegas to Mexico City to deep on the Gulf Coast of Mexico and then back up into California and back to Nevada, Dick and Perry traveled just about everywhere trying to start a new life after their fortune turned up short at the Clutters. After detective's Dye and Dewey worked tirelessly on this case for the matter of a few weeks, a piece came forth that brought the puzzle together. Floyd Wells an inmate hears the news of the Clutter's and hears about the reward they are offering for anyone who can step forwards with information. Wells was a cellmates with Dick whilst he was in jail and revealed to Dick that Mr. Clutter was a wealthy man. Dick became greedy and spoke of the crime he would commit once he got out of jail but Wells thought it to be all talk. Dick and Perry were found in Vegas, detained, and brought back to Holcomb where they would face trial. It was revealed the perverted intentions Dick had for Nancy and the full clear story behind what took place.
The first rhetorical aspect of Capote's writing that fascinated me the most was the way that he structured and organized the story. In the first chapter of the book Capote told two different story lines; one of Dick and Perry and their mischievous behaviors and the other of the Clutter's and their daily life all of which were activities prior to the murder. The murders then takes place, but Capote does something very interesting where he never really shows the murders happening rather just the police looking over the seen and Dick and Perry reflecting on it as they drive away. In rearranging the facts of the Clutters' murder, Capote was able to not only just retell the true story of them but also put new meanings behind it. Capote's opinions in the story become evident later on when talking about the death penalty as he shows his strong opposition for it.
Capote's purpose in writing this informative yet creative work was to illustrate the complexity and the true improbability of the "American Dream". Mr. Clutter had a wonderful life, with a beautiful family and a great and successful business. Mr. Clutter's and his family's dreams are unexpectedly ended when two criminals do whatever it takes for just money. Capote did a brilliant job illustrating his purpose through the organization and structure of "In Cold Blood".
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