In Cold Blood By Truman Capote

Holcomb, KS November 14, 1959 The Herbert Clutter family was asleep when intruders entered. The Herbert Clutter family was asleep when intruders entered.

The Clutter Family: Herbert Clutter: strong, intelligent, honest, community leader Herbert Clutter: strong, intelligent, honest, community leader Bonnie Clutter: frail, ill, nervous, seldom left home Bonnie Clutter: frail, ill, nervous, seldom left home Nancy Clutter: vibrant, attractive, intelligent Nancy Clutter: vibrant, attractive, intelligent Kenyon Clutter: athletic, intelligent Kenyon Clutter: athletic, intelligent Bobby Rupp: Nancy’s steady boyfriend Bobby Rupp: Nancy’s steady boyfriend

Dick Hickock: From Olathe, Kansas Led a normal, but impoverished childhood Led a normal, but impoverished childhood Married and divorced twice Married and divorced twice Three sons Three sons On parole/not allowed to associate with ex-cons On parole/not allowed to associate with ex-cons Tall, lean, and athletic Tall, lean, and athletic Blonde/blue-eyed Blonde/blue-eyed Facial injuries with scars from auto wreck Facial injuries with scars from auto wreck Blue “dot” tattoo under one eye Blue “dot” tattoo under one eye Many other tattoos on body Many other tattoos on body Believed information from Floyd Wells was true about the Clutter family wealth Believed information from Floyd Wells was true about the Clutter family wealth Planned a way to rob and kill the Clutters Planned a way to rob and kill the Clutters

Perry Smith: From Las Vegas, Nevada Half American Indian Half American Indian Short, dark-haired and dark-eyed Short, dark-haired and dark-eyed Many body tattoos Many body tattoos Severe leg injuries from motorcycle accident; constant pain/aspirin addict Severe leg injuries from motorcycle accident; constant pain/aspirin addict Intelligent; large vocabulary Intelligent; large vocabulary Talented musically and artistically Talented musically and artistically Superstitious; many phobias Superstitious; many phobias Met Dick Hickock in prison Met Dick Hickock in prison Alcoholic mother had been a rodeo trick rider Alcoholic mother had been a rodeo trick rider Abusive father had tried to start a tourist lodge in Alaska, before it was a state Abusive father had tried to start a tourist lodge in Alaska, before it was a state Parents split up; Perry was placed in orphanage and abused; later lived with father off and on again Parents split up; Perry was placed in orphanage and abused; later lived with father off and on again

Questions raised by publication of IN COLD BLOOD: What role does child abuse play in shaping an individual’s behavior? Is capital punishment (the “death penalty”) an acceptable form of punishment? Do prisons actually reform criminals?

Truman Capote Born: Truman Persons in New Orleans, LA Born: Truman Persons in New Orleans, LA (later adopted by his mother’s second husband) (later adopted by his mother’s second husband) Parents split up, cared for by aunts and uncles; lived next door to Harper Lee in Alabama, who became his best friend Parents split up, cared for by aunts and uncles; lived next door to Harper Lee in Alabama, who became his best friend Felt psychologically “abandoned” by his parents. His alcoholic mother seldom visited, except to show off new boyfriends. Felt psychologically “abandoned” by his parents. His alcoholic mother seldom visited, except to show off new boyfriends. A strange child with a high-pitched voice, he became the model for character “Dill” in To Kill a Mockingbird. A strange child with a high-pitched voice, he became the model for character “Dill” in To Kill a Mockingbird. Some literary scholars think that Capote “ghost-wrote” To Kill a Mockingbird for Harper Lee. Others argue that Lee wrote most of In Cold Blood. Some literary scholars think that Capote “ghost-wrote” To Kill a Mockingbird for Harper Lee. Others argue that Lee wrote most of In Cold Blood.

Capote, continued: Attended military school and small private schools in New York when his mother remarried to “make him more masculine” Attended military school and small private schools in New York when his mother remarried to “make him more masculine” After high school, he sold stories to magazines. After high school, he sold stories to magazines. Became famous because of a provocative photo in Life about new writers. Became famous because of a provocative photo in Life about new writers. Witty, loved parties and society functions; easily became a “jet-setter.” Witty, loved parties and society functions; easily became a “jet-setter.”

Capote, continued: Most famous works include: Most famous works include: Other Voices, Other Rooms Other Voices, Other Rooms A Christmas Memory A Christmas Memory Breakfast at Tiffany’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s In Cold Blood In Cold Blood After In Cold Blood, Capote was unable to finish any other novels. The book left him emotionally drained. After In Cold Blood, Capote was unable to finish any other novels. The book left him emotionally drained. He died of drug and alcohol abuse in He died of drug and alcohol abuse in 1984.