Sympathy In Perr Capote's In Cold Blood

The media’s role in America is to provide an unbiased overview of current events happening in the world. But do we ever truly receive an objective view of any given situation? When a man is put on trial for murder, and pleads guilty, do reporters respect him, or do they treat him like an animal, ready to be prodded for statements? When a detective has information on a case, does the media let him lead a normal life? Or is he harassed by reporters day and night, in his own home? As a reporter, Capote reveals more than just the surface value of Perry Smith and Al Dewey. Perry is more than a cold-blooded killer, Al Dewey is more than a source of clues and information on a compelling murder case. Capote delves deep into the lives of both Smith and Dewey, exposing the depth and complexity of who they are. By doing this, Capote reveals the true nature of these two men, and therefore plays on the reader’s emotions, creating a sense of sympathy for these key characters in his book, In Cold Blood. Perhaps the most detailed character in Capote’s book is …show more content…
It is no coincidence that Capote ends his account of this captivating mystery with Dewey. Of all of the surviving characters of In Cold Blood, Dewey is arguably the most affected by the case. Capote reveals that Dewey’s dream of living on a farm were ultimately not realized, due to Marie’s uneasiness to live “in that sort of isolation” as a result of the Clutter murders, a case with which she had become all too familiar (341). Dewey himself was unable to bring himself to watch the death of Perry Smith, and “shut his eyes” when he was ultimately hung (340). A man who had worked four years to catch these murders, was still unable to stomach the sight of killing them. Capote employs Dewey’s family and sensitivity to the murders in order to create sympathy in his audience for