What issues seem to be of central importance to Truman Capote in his novel "In Cold Blood?"

What issues seem to be of central interest

in his novel of In Cold Blood?

Capote wanted to express three purposes of the effects to the murder. Firstly, he wanted to show us the effect it had on such a small community, and why they reacted in the way they did. Why did so many families leave the town of Holcomb, and even suspect their own neighbours as the murderers? Capote then goes onto write a psychological profile of Perry Smith, who was one of the murderers of the Clutter family. What actually drove this man to do such a crime in the first place, and also what was Perry's feelings after and during this murder? The final purpose why Capote wrote this novel was to ask the question whether or not Capital Punishment should take place. Capote believed that Capital Punishment was wrong, and this comes across well in his views and forwards this onto us through reading 'In Cold Blood'.

Truman Capote , 1948

English: Clutter home, Holcomb, Kansas, USA

Capote (film)

Capote introduces faction in this novel. Faction is made up of both fact and fiction. Capote didn't just use faction because he wanted to emphasise on certain areas but because he mostly wanted to gain sympathy from his readers. We learn of how the Clutter's are ordinary people, and live meaningful, happy lives with each other, and then they are suddenly murdered in their own home. If we didn't have the use of faction in order to build up the scenes of the family interacting with other members of the community then we wouldn't have so much sympathy for them when they are murdered in the way that they are. Capote uses much of his faction for Nancy showing her having a conversation with her best-friend Susan, talking about girlie thoughts, and teenage life. 'And to begin,