In Cold Blood Quotes:

“The same childish feet, tilted, dangling”

Perry hanging focalised through Al Dewey

innocence and vulnerability juxtaposes the harsh reality of his death

context: Capote’s objection to the death penalty

the black Chevrolet (1949)

description used in section 1 often when switching to the perspective of Dick and Perry

recurring motif emphasising the grim reaper or angel of death, approaching death

builds a tense atmosphere foreshadowing the eventual murders

“high wheat plains”

imagery used to describe Holcomb at the start of section 1 and 2

motif

focuses on the impacts of murders on a small rural town (Capote’s initial focus/intention), and the peace and serenity prior to the murders that disrupted Holcomb life.

“whispers of wind voices in the wind-bent wheat”

occurs at the very end of the novel (The Corner)

alliteration

alluding to the fact that the dust has settled around the murders, and the town have found peace again

Capote also wanted to highlight how these murders can happen anywhere (said in an interview how despite him focusing on this murder it happens everywhere, that’s why he included other murder stories and convict stories in The Corner)

“I promise you, honey, we’ll blast hair all over them walls”

Dick talking to Perry about why he is wearing what he is

vocative ‘honey’ acts as a initially caring word however in relation to the way he addresses Perry it seems somewhat belittling and degrading. Using Perry in order to make himself feel more masculine, (both characters do this)

“die-hard community booster”

used to describe Mr Clutter’s attributes in Section 1

idiom ‘die-hard’ confirming his fierce loyalty to the community and his dedication to defend its every interest

adjective phrase depicting his promotion of his town/community

two grey tomcats

When Perry is in jail he observes these cats walking around the town square, picking dead birds of automobile grilles, section 4

motif, reflecting the lifestyle of Perry and Dick, who live on the outskirts of society, picking at whatever scraps they can get

“the town darling, Nancy”

In section 1 in order to describe Nancy Clutter

Noun phrase, depicting her as a beautiful teenage girl, reinforcing fondness felt for Clutter family making the injustice for them that much more heart breaking

context: conventional of southern belle stereotypes

“four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives”

In section 1, setting the scene

foreshadowing omniscient narrative voice, creating a tense atmosphere suggesting the details of a murder being depicted as well as the lives who were destroyed as a result. initial reading may indicate these 2 other lives (aside from the Clutter household) were the 2 sisters however as the story develops this may reflect Dick and Perry.

“it was a dress in which she was to be buried”

Section 1

dramatic irony, Nancy believes she is getting ready for church however readers know it is for her funeral, to create a sense of foreboding and highlighting the tragic nature of the events he is describing

“Always certain of what he wanted from the world, Mr Clutter had in large measure obtained it”

Section 1, describing Mr Clutter

adverb ‘always’ suggests Herb’s certainty of what he wanted from life and his determined character

transitive verb ‘obtained’ suggests him maximising himself in order to reach and accomplish his goals, therefore suggesting he is a hard working, reliable man who will get things done

context: american dream (anyone regardless of background can achieve success through hard work and determination)

“girlish, and as frothy as a ballerina’s tutu”

Section 1, describing Nancy’s bedroom

simile, highlighting her femininity and also reinforcing her naiive vulnerability with ballerinas and tutus having connotations of a young girl

context: Southern Belle (feminine attributes)

“white-and-pink” and “pink-and-white”

section 1 describing Nancy’s room

compound adjective, suggesting her innocence as well as reminding readers that she is a normal teenage girl despite what happened to her

context: Southern Belle, faction novel presenting both victims and killers as human

“weepy, womanly eyes”

Section 3 Dick referring to Perry, saying he is sick of him

alliteration, suggesting Perry’s feminine vulnerability, in order to help dick feel more masculine perhaps. helps readers understand the complexity behind Perry and garners sympathy for him

context: Capote’s friendship with Perry

“two young men had little in common, but they did not realise it, for they shared a number of surface traits”

section 1, getting ready to drive in the chevrolet

noun phrase ‘surface traits’ suggests their shallow understanding and knowledge of each other as their friendship is heavily focused on the desire to commit a crime (doesn’t have strong foundations), twinged with resentment on both parts

“although unrelaxed herself, had a relaxing quality”

Section 1, vocalised through Jolene (Nancy was helping) Bonnie is waiting with her until her Mum picks her up

syntactic parallelism, suggesting Bonnie’s calming, reassuring presence, despite being uneasy herself

“as a kind of ghost”

Bonnie talking to Mrs Kidwell (Wilma) about her missing out on her kids lives and how Kenyon will grow up to remember her

simile, suggesting her lack of presence and low quality of life that she almost feels dead

hedging ‘kind of’ suggests her uncertainty at what will happen and her unwillingness to accept that, that is what her life has come to and what Kenyon thinks of her

context: mental health in Women was seen to hysteria therefore it was disregarded and not taken as seriously, lack of knowledge about it in the 1950/60s

“hated, hating half-breed”

section 2, referring to Perry as a child

epizeuxsis ‘hated, hating’ emphasising Perry’s complex dislike and relationship with those around him and the world

context: Capote wanting readers to understand the crime, Capote and Perry getting along well and being very similar, Both men look in the mirror and thought they saw the other

“They’ll vote to hang fast as pigs eat slop”

(section 4, Perry referring to the Southern jury)

zoomorphic simile suggests the savage nature of the jury and people who believe in death row, suggesting Perry’s strong rejection of it.

context: Capote’s objection to the death penalty, Southern states were strong advocates of the death penalty with it still being legal in Kansas to this day

“it’s a helluva thing to take a life in this manner. I don’t believe in capital punishment, morally or legally.”

(Perry about death row just before he died, section 4)

negative axillary verb ‘don’t’ suggesting his strong rejection of the death penalty, syndetic pair suggests his deep rejection and resentment of his life being taken in this way, still had hope for the future therefore validates the brutality of the death penalty

context: Capote disagreed with the death penalty

“O.K., honey. If that’s the way you feel.”

(Perry recalling him stopping Dick from raping Nancy when telling the officers about the details of the crime, section 3)

suggests Dick’s emasculation of Perry, believing that he is weak and fragile however Perry remains true to his morals, upholding strong standards and a deep, true sense of a moral compass. Dick sees Perry as sensitive often comparing him to be strongly feminine

context: Capote suggests that both men were deeply jealous of one and other, often competing, particularly Perry of Dick

“death-dulled, still-staring eyes”

Dewey describing the photographs of Bonnie, section 2

compound adjectives, describing the brutality of the murder for Bonnie, suffered before they died, reminding readers of the cruel nature of the events

“steps, noose, mask”

Perry about to be hung on death row, section 4

tricolon/asyndetic listing suggesting the cold, unfeeling, procedural nature of the death penalty

context: Capote disagreed with the death penalty

“I didn’t want to harm the man. I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat”

Perry about Herb, section 3

Emphasising the lack of thought behind the crime, contrasting feelings Perry has towards Herb suggesting his cold and ruthless traits yet also his empathetic humanly qualities

context: Perry found himself [in the Clutter house] in a psychological cul-de-sac