Nothing in life is set in stone and nothing in life is ever promised. Life has its twists and turns, its ups and downs, and its struggle it makes people go through. In the case of Truman Capote 's true crime novel In Cold Blood, life throws a curve-ball at the seemingly tranquil, open community of Holcomb, Kansas where the murders of the Clutter family disrupts the fictitious portrayal of the town. In three distinctive parts of the novel-Part I, Part II, Part II-Capote transitions from the once amicable Holcomb to a malicious, nefarious town with equally narcissistic citizens. Capote use of a variety of rhetorical devices illustrates the tone shift within the community in response to the gruesome murders. In Part I of the novel, Capote
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The once affectionate town changes as "a peaceful congregation of neighbors and old friends had suddenly to endure the unique experience of distrusting each other; understandably, they believed that the murderer was among themselves” (Capote, 88). Capote 's use of juxtaposition to compare the distrust among the Holcomb community to the "ordinary life" they once had emphasizes the change of the community 's demeanor. His use of "peaceful congregation of neighbors and old friends" to "distrusting each other" reiterates the drastic affects of the Clutters murders upon the community. Moreover, Capote 's diction illustrates radical differences from Part I and Part II; he writes with a more melancholy, bleak tone. His consipious use of "suddenly to endure" entails the once close friends suddenly became strangers, not trusting anyone, including family, and that the community did not wish to perceive each other in this way, but "had to" in response to the dire circumstances. For the community is not "as so much frightened as they are deeply depressed" about the Clutters ' murders. Capote 's use of juxtaposition and diction in Part II paints the definite turmoil and skepticism present in Holcomb, Kansas when compared to the placid Part …show more content…
The Holcomb citizen are not only vigilant around each other but also beginning to feel even more belligerent too. The community 's relationships have languished like River Valley Farm (the Clutter 's property) for the transformation of "Eden on Earth" to "the cider-tart odor of spoiling apples...it was inexplicable...the first threads of decay 's cobweb were being spun. A gravel rake lay rusting in the driveway; the lawns parched and shabby...the Clutter place seemed shadowed, and hushed, and motionless" (Capote, 12, 206-207). The River Valley Farm metaphorically mirrors Holcomb 's deteriorating relationships. Before the murders, the Clutter 's home was known as the "Eden on Earth" for its luscious apple, pear, peach, and cherry trees, and mesmerizing landscape. Simultaneously, it was also symbolic to the attitudes and relationships in Holcomb before the murders (Part I). Holcomb was an amicable, ideal community that one wished to live in for its affable inhabitants were inviting and its community had a homey-feel; however, following the Clutter murders, it no longer had the same demeanor. Instead, suspicion is among Holcomb, and everyone suspects each other for the murders. Capote 's imagery of River Valley Farm paints a haunted mood, similar to the mood of the Holcomb citizens; he uses the metaphor to mirror the abandoned and
The once affectionate town changes as "a peaceful congregation of neighbors and old friends had suddenly to endure the unique experience of distrusting each other; understandably, they believed that the murderer was among themselves” (Capote, 88). Capote 's use of juxtaposition to compare the distrust among the Holcomb community to the "ordinary life" they once had emphasizes the change of the community 's demeanor. His use of "peaceful congregation of neighbors and old friends" to "distrusting each other" reiterates the drastic affects of the Clutters murders upon the community. Moreover, Capote 's diction illustrates radical differences from Part I and Part II; he writes with a more melancholy, bleak tone. His consipious use of "suddenly to endure" entails the once close friends suddenly became strangers, not trusting anyone, including family, and that the community did not wish to perceive each other in this way, but "had to" in response to the dire circumstances. For the community is not "as so much frightened as they are deeply depressed" about the Clutters ' murders. Capote 's use of juxtaposition and diction in Part II paints the definite turmoil and skepticism present in Holcomb, Kansas when compared to the placid Part …show more content…
The Holcomb citizen are not only vigilant around each other but also beginning to feel even more belligerent too. The community 's relationships have languished like River Valley Farm (the Clutter 's property) for the transformation of "Eden on Earth" to "the cider-tart odor of spoiling apples...it was inexplicable...the first threads of decay 's cobweb were being spun. A gravel rake lay rusting in the driveway; the lawns parched and shabby...the Clutter place seemed shadowed, and hushed, and motionless" (Capote, 12, 206-207). The River Valley Farm metaphorically mirrors Holcomb 's deteriorating relationships. Before the murders, the Clutter 's home was known as the "Eden on Earth" for its luscious apple, pear, peach, and cherry trees, and mesmerizing landscape. Simultaneously, it was also symbolic to the attitudes and relationships in Holcomb before the murders (Part I). Holcomb was an amicable, ideal community that one wished to live in for its affable inhabitants were inviting and its community had a homey-feel; however, following the Clutter murders, it no longer had the same demeanor. Instead, suspicion is among Holcomb, and everyone suspects each other for the murders. Capote 's imagery of River Valley Farm paints a haunted mood, similar to the mood of the Holcomb citizens; he uses the metaphor to mirror the abandoned and