One might ask: How many people this day and age are faced with their horrific past negatively affecting their future? This answer can be found in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. After two strange men break out of prison, they plot to murder an innocent family. Capote uses background information from the killer's, the family that was murdered, and people who were close to the family throughout the story to show how their past affected their future actions. Capote not only connects with the characters background, but he also connects with their emotions and how they were affected after the murder, and he sets a dark and repentant tone. Through Capote’s compulsive appeals to his audience, he conveys that when people face struggles and trials, they
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By giving the background of each character, it is able to express an idea of what the character has faced and what can later happen in their life. Having the characters background information helps to demonstrate their reasoning as to why the murders occurred. In the beginning of the story, Capote’s use of ethos comes across when another character described Mr. Clutter stating, “If Herb had thought his family was in danger, mortal danger, he would have fought like a tiger” (82). Capote shows us that everyone in the small town of Holcomb knew that Mr. Clutter was not known as a man to give up easily, by quoting this given information from one of the characters in the story. Many people knew that Mr. Clutter would not back down and would put up a fight if he knew his family was in danger, which leaves us and the characters in the story questioning what happened for him to have not given up and have his family murdered. Capote also shows his use of ethos close to the end of the story when using Bobby Rupp, Nancy Clutter’s boyfriend to give the audience an idea of how the families loved ones have been affected by the deaths. Bobby shows his emotions by reflecting on what he’s seen: “Susan? You know what I keep seeing? Nancy” (Capote 207). Since being affected by the tragic crime, the friends and family members of the Clutters have not been able to cope and leaves them wondering if the murderer(s) are still somewhere out there, living their life while they sit in dismay by the fact that the Clutters don’t have that option. People who face difficult, problem filled childhoods sometimes struggle to make mild
By giving the background of each character, it is able to express an idea of what the character has faced and what can later happen in their life. Having the characters background information helps to demonstrate their reasoning as to why the murders occurred. In the beginning of the story, Capote’s use of ethos comes across when another character described Mr. Clutter stating, “If Herb had thought his family was in danger, mortal danger, he would have fought like a tiger” (82). Capote shows us that everyone in the small town of Holcomb knew that Mr. Clutter was not known as a man to give up easily, by quoting this given information from one of the characters in the story. Many people knew that Mr. Clutter would not back down and would put up a fight if he knew his family was in danger, which leaves us and the characters in the story questioning what happened for him to have not given up and have his family murdered. Capote also shows his use of ethos close to the end of the story when using Bobby Rupp, Nancy Clutter’s boyfriend to give the audience an idea of how the families loved ones have been affected by the deaths. Bobby shows his emotions by reflecting on what he’s seen: “Susan? You know what I keep seeing? Nancy” (Capote 207). Since being affected by the tragic crime, the friends and family members of the Clutters have not been able to cope and leaves them wondering if the murderer(s) are still somewhere out there, living their life while they sit in dismay by the fact that the Clutters don’t have that option. People who face difficult, problem filled childhoods sometimes struggle to make mild