The book is divided into four sections. The first section flips back and forth from the Clutters living their everyday lives to Perry and Dick preparing for and on the road to the murder. It ends with the discovery of the murder, but doesn’t tell the story of the murder actually occurring. It just ends with Dick returning home and “kiss[ing] his mother, readily reply[ing] to questions his father put concerning his supposed overnight trip to Fort Scott, and s[itting] down to eat,” before crashing on the couch. The second section focuses on the murderers and following close behind them, the investigation. The third section continues with the investigation, but it has the interviews with the murderers, which reveal what truly happened inside the house. By dividing the story into sections, it adds not only organization and clarity to the story, but it makes the story feel like a real murder case: killers plotting the death, the actual murder that’s details are unknown and unclear, then, the investigation and suspicion, and then, finally, the the culprits are caught.
Capote splits up the work into sections based on topics. The first section describes the events leading up to the murder, the second portrays trying to figure out who committed the murder, and the third is about finding out who did it and investigations. This allows the reader to understand each topic better, and as there are no real chapter breaks, allows for pauses. Capote also offers enough in each section to keep the reader engaged and interested, while ending each section on a cliff hanger, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat wanting to know more.For example, the third section ends with Hickock and Smith being taken to jail, and the promise of the trial to finally bring them to justice “The camera-men, pursuing the prisoners and the police into the courthouse and up three flights of stairs, photographed the door of the county jail slamming shut” (248). This leaves the reader with a great desire to know how the trial goes and what the punishment will be.
After reading the first section and starting the second, it seems to me (like Sharona and Leora) to be a thematic and plot-based divide. Not only does Capote devote an extensive portion of the book (the entire first section) to what is essentially background on the main subject of the book, but he does so in a very organized and deliberate manner that emphasizes the importance of the background and the gravity that it will surely have on the rest of the book. After only experiencing one divide, between background and investigation, I expect that the trend will continue and expand. The first section is called "The Last To See Them Alive," of course referring to Bobby, who "as he was to learn before nightfall, was their principal suspect" (72), and Bobby is also among the first characters to occupy the second section -- "Persons Unknown," going around town with the other girl to mitigate his grief. This straddling of sections and focus on character development is integral in the naming and understanding of the sections and the story.
Truman Capote chooses to divide his book, In Cold Blood, into four different sections. The first section is called The Last to See Them Alive. This section focuses on the Clutter family the day before they were murdered. The second section, Persons Unknown, is about the two murderers, Perry and Dick, and about the town’s reaction to the murder of the Clutter family. The third section, Answers, is about the sheriff finally catching and successfully interrogating a confession out of Dick and Perry. Each section is about a different part of the events that unfold. In no section is the murder described in “live time.” We learn about the details of the murder in the third section, during the interrogation. We also learn that Dick was “expecting to find a safe containing at least ten thousand dollars” (p.230). Capote divides the work into sections in order to organize the events that took place in an orderly fashion.
Truman Capote divided In Cold Blood into four sections because they each have a different story to tell. The first part, “The Last to See Them Alive,” focuses on the background of the story and the day of the murder. This section is the lead up to the case, and it allows the reader to personalize themselves with the characters in the story, such as the Clutters, the townspeople, and the murderers, Dick and Perry. The second part, “Persons Unknown,” is about the discovery of the crime and the beginning of the investigation. It talks about the people of Holcomb freaking about over the murder. Capote writes, “This hitherto 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” (88). This part of the book also states the story of Perry’s past life. This allows the reader to get closer to Perry and even to sympathize with him. The third part, “Answer,” is about the investigation of the crime and the officials trying to track down the killers. I am not done with this part yet, so I do not know what happens at the end of it. The book is divided into these sections so the reader can focus on a specific theme and plot string. I think in the fourth section, the killers will be caught and interrogated.
In Cold Blood is divided into four different sections. The first section is on the background information of both the Clutter family and their killers. The second section is about the town’s reaction to the murder and the beginning of the investigation. The third section is the interrogation of the killers and putting all the pieces together. Each section is long but is organized through different paragraphs. This divide works well with the story because each section has a main theme and ends on a cliff hanger. This creates a level of suspense. For example the whole first section is about the Clutter family and then, just like that, they are all dead and the town is left extremely scared. After the murder we hear from the perspective of Bobby’s youngest brother, Larry. It says, “Bobby began to cry… He couldn’t remember ever seeing Bobby cry, and he didn’t want to, so he lowered his eyes.” Then the story shifts back to Dick and Perry one more time before the section ends, allowing the reader to piece together that those two men are the killers. In the other two sections, Capote constructs a similar steady build up. Each section is very detailed and really pulls the reader into the story whereas if he had written the story in chapters, it would be choppier and wouldn’t allow the reader to fully indulge into the book. Since each section is so extensive and detailed, the reader is on the edge of their seats throughout the book.
In a literary sense, the book could have been almost over after section one. There was a great set-up and character development. The reader has the background of the story and almost all of important characters have been introduced. In fact, the climax of the plot occurs one-fourth of the way through the book: a graphic, planned murder with a "wall covered in blood"(60). Shouldn't the book be over shortly after the murder? I have not read this far, but the only option I can think of is that the climax is when the killers are found and convicted. This would be something out of the ordinary for a murder mystery novel. Perhaps,this is another proof as to why one cannot read "In Cold Blood" as a work of fiction.
The first section provides details about the Clutter family. It introduces the members of the family, and describes who they were. This section also describes Dick and Perry and their trip to Holcomb. It ends with the night of the murder. The second section describes the people in the town’s reactions to the murder, and also provides more details about Dick and Perry. The reader learns about their families and childhoods and begins to sympathize with them, more specifically Perry. The third section describes the capture, interrogation, and imprisonment of Dick and Perry. There is also a fourth, and final section. Each of the sections ends with a cliffhanger. After the first section, the reader wants to know if Dick and Perry really killed the Clutters. After reading the second section, the reader wants to know if Dick and Perry will be captured. After the third section, the readers wants to know what will happen to Dick and Perry. I think dividing the story into these sections keeps the reader interested and wanting to know what happens next. Capote writes “The handcuffed men, white-faced and blinking blindly, glistened in the glare of flashbulbs and floodlights. The cameramen, pursuing the prisoners and the police into the courthouse and up three flights of stairs, photographed the door of the county jail slamming shut ”(248). The way in which Capote writes these sentences keeps the reader interested in the story.
Capote divided In Cold Blood into four sections. The first section describes in great detail the Clutter family, and background information about their lives. It also expresses the murder of the family. The second section informs the reader of the town's reaction to the Clutter’s death. The news came as a shock to almost everyone in Holcomb: “Of all people in all the world, the Clutters were the least likely to be murdered” (85). This sections also talks about Dewey’s first investigations, and Perry’s childhood. The third section is about tracking down the murderers, and the interviews with them. By dividing the story into different sections, it leaves the reader with an eagerness to know the outcome of the case, and it is a more organized way to write.
Truman Capote’s choice to divide his novel into sections not only allows the plot to flow smoother, but also allows the reader to understand on a continuously deeper level, Dick and Perry, the murderers. The first section, “The Last to See Them Alive”, discusses the period of time previous to the murder and the murder itself. The second, “Persons Unknown”, elaborates on the aftermath of the murder and majority of the investigation. Part three, “Answer”, tells about the capture of the murderers and their confessions. While part four, presumably, will contain their punishment, the death penalty. Logically, this order makes complete sense, it is consecutive and takes on a very factual, journalistic approach: part of Capote’s main objective in his novel. However, more analytically, each section delves deeper into the lives of Dick and Perry, who are the main characters of the novel. In “The Last to See Them Alive”, the physical characteristics of the characters are explained, yet in section two, the two murderers become more humanized as their life stories are told. Furthermore, section three attempts to shed light on the humane aspects of Dick and Perry and even attempts to give motives for their actions, explaining that their lives “had been no bed of roses but pitiful” (246). The account of the murder, step by step in each section, unfolds parallel to the revelation of the true characteristics of Dick and Perry.
In Cold Blood is divided into four different sections. The first section gives a brief introduction to the characters, mainly the Clutters. This section also talks about the affect the murder had on the townspeople. However, it fails to go into detail about the murder itself. The second section discusses the police investigation and how the murderers escaped. The third section includes the capture of the murderers and the interviews that follow. Capote splits up the book into different sections to help keep the reader interested. In the first few pages of the book, Capote writes about “four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives” (5). However, he doesn't discuss the main details of the murder until the very end of the book. Capote keeps the reader in suspense throughout the book which keeps the book interesting.
Truman Capote's decision to divide the book into four sections allows the reader to have a clearer understanding of the events that occurred. The sections are divided thematically allowing the reader to fully comprehend every aspect of the story. Each section gives a comprehensive account of one part of the story. Throughout the sections the reader is provided with more information and learns more about the murder as well as the murderers. The first section provides background about the victims and murderers and recounts the murder itself. The manner in which the Clutters are described is encapsulated by their neighbor Stoecklein,’’ Gentle, kindly people’’ (66). The next section describes the consequences of the murder and the investigation, and the third section continues the end of the investigation and the murderers’ confessions. New knowledge is added to the account of the murder as the sections progress.
By dividing the book into four sections Capote leaves the reader in suspense on many occasions. Often ending a section with a cliffhanger, Capote keeps the reader engaged and interested in the story. For example, at the end of section two Perry and Dick are attempting to get a ride from Mexico City. At this point in the story it is unclear whether or not the duo will be caught and prosecuted. The last thing the reader sees of the pair is the two of them singing, “Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!” (155) The reader is left to wonder about the fate of the murders. By dividing the story this way Capote makes the story feel like a real case; never knowing what will happen to the suspects.
Capote does not divide his work into four separate sections, but rather four connecting steps along the path of understanding this murder case. Each section discusses a central concept present in every crime case. The first section, The Last to See Them Alive, discusses the victims and shows certain important events leading up to the murder. The second section, Persons Unknown, follows the murderers and investigates their true character. The third section, Answer, gives insight into the rationale of the murderers. The fourth section, The Corner, shows the results of these actions, and thereby wraps up the case (I presume). To fully appreciate each section, one must see the previous sections. In section three, Answer, it would be impossible to truly understand what Perry means as he explains, “I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat” (244), unless you analyzed Perry as a real person and saw his major flaws. Capote arranges his work into these four section in order to help the reader better comprehend each stage in this murder case and how it fits into the case as a whole.
In Cold Blood has four sections which all focus on a different part of the story. This format works very well as a journalistic work. Capote used the sections to make the book extremely organized, and Capote made the story very easy to follow. The book also has short chapters which usually means a switch in the scene. In The Last to See them Alive, the book goes back and forth between the people in Holcomb and Dick and Perry. This format makes the book more like a list of evidence and less like a linear story. The reader hears multiple testimonies from many different people all from different perspectives. The reader gets to then piece that information together.
Capote divides his book into four sections to help the reader focus on the present issue and not look at the murder case as a whole. By the story unfolding this way, it enhances the thrill of the case for the reader. The first section introduces the characters, primarily the Clutters and the killers, and ends with their murder. The second section is primarily about the hunt for the criminals and an insight into their lives. The third section begins with a Floyd Wells being the first big breakthrough of the case; "Not only had he known the murdered family, he knew very well who had murdered them," (160). It ends with the killers confessing and section four starts with their trial back in Kansas. Capote makes four sections in attempt to guide the reader in grasping the current situation, and by taking in and understanding each step of the murder mystery, it makes the novel even better.
Had this novel had been a newspaper article, albeit a very long one, the story could have ended after the first section. This, however, was not the format that Capote chose to take. Instead, he decided to split the novel up into 4 sections, both making the work organized and interesting. Each section has a specific purpose, a message meant to extrapolate a certain set of emotions from the reader. The first section's purpose is to give a background on the victims. The second's purpose is show the dynamic duo's adventure. The third is to show the ending. The fourth is to show the aftermath. Each section is highlighted by a phrase. For the first section, the phrase is "four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives. The format of the sections allows the reader to feel an array of emotions essential to understanding the full picture.
Capote divides his book into four section: The Last to See Them Alive, Persons Unknown, The Answer, and The Corner. All of these sections are named after stages in the murder/prosecution process. “The Last to See Them Alive” is the murder and the initial police investigation when they search for clues of the last people to see them live. “Persons Unknown” is the period that the police are looking for the identity of the murders, but still do not know yet. “The Answer” is when they actually find out who the murderers are and catch them. Finally, “The Corner” which I haven’t read yet, but has been referenced once before: “‘You could be wrong. And if you are, it means The Corner’... the ultimate penalty in the State of Kansas” (188). I think that Capote divides the book into sections to convey the stages in the story: The event/murder, the immediate aftermath and shock, the process after the shock solving the murder, and the conclusion.
The book is divided into four sections. The first section flips back and forth from the Clutters living their everyday lives to Perry and Dick preparing for and on the road to the murder. It ends with the discovery of the murder, but doesn’t tell the story of the murder actually occurring. It just ends with Dick returning home and “kiss[ing] his mother, readily reply[ing] to questions his father put concerning his supposed overnight trip to Fort Scott, and s[itting] down to eat,” before crashing on the couch. The second section focuses on the murderers and following close behind them, the investigation. The third section continues with the investigation, but it has the interviews with the murderers, which reveal what truly happened inside the house. By dividing the story into sections, it adds not only organization and clarity to the story, but it makes the story feel like a real murder case: killers plotting the death, the actual murder that’s details are unknown and unclear, then, the investigation and suspicion, and then, finally, the the culprits are caught.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCapote splits up the work into sections based on topics. The first section describes the events leading up to the murder, the second portrays trying to figure out who committed the murder, and the third is about finding out who did it and investigations. This allows the reader to understand each topic better, and as there are no real chapter breaks, allows for pauses. Capote also offers enough in each section to keep the reader engaged and interested, while ending each section on a cliff hanger, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat wanting to know more.For example, the third section ends with Hickock and Smith being taken to jail, and the promise of the trial to finally bring them to justice “The camera-men, pursuing the prisoners and the police into the courthouse and up three flights of stairs, photographed the door of the county jail slamming shut” (248). This leaves the reader with a great desire to know how the trial goes and what the punishment will be.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the first section and starting the second, it seems to me (like Sharona and Leora) to be a thematic and plot-based divide. Not only does Capote devote an extensive portion of the book (the entire first section) to what is essentially background on the main subject of the book, but he does so in a very organized and deliberate manner that emphasizes the importance of the background and the gravity that it will surely have on the rest of the book. After only experiencing one divide, between background and investigation, I expect that the trend will continue and expand. The first section is called "The Last To See Them Alive," of course referring to Bobby, who "as he was to learn before nightfall, was their principal suspect" (72), and Bobby is also among the first characters to occupy the second section -- "Persons Unknown," going around town with the other girl to mitigate his grief. This straddling of sections and focus on character development is integral in the naming and understanding of the sections and the story.
ReplyDeleteTruman Capote chooses to divide his book, In Cold Blood, into four different sections. The first section is called The Last to See Them Alive. This section focuses on the Clutter family the day before they were murdered. The second section, Persons Unknown, is about the two murderers, Perry and Dick, and about the town’s reaction to the murder of the Clutter family. The third section, Answers, is about the sheriff finally catching and successfully interrogating a confession out of Dick and Perry. Each section is about a different part of the events that unfold. In no section is the murder described in “live time.” We learn about the details of the murder in the third section, during the interrogation. We also learn that Dick was “expecting to find a safe containing at least ten thousand dollars” (p.230). Capote divides the work into sections in order to organize the events that took place in an orderly fashion.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTruman Capote divided In Cold Blood into four sections because they each have a different story to tell. The first part, “The Last to See Them Alive,” focuses on the background of the story and the day of the murder. This section is the lead up to the case, and it allows the reader to personalize themselves with the characters in the story, such as the Clutters, the townspeople, and the murderers, Dick and Perry. The second part, “Persons Unknown,” is about the discovery of the crime and the beginning of the investigation. It talks about the people of Holcomb freaking about over the murder. Capote writes, “This hitherto 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” (88). This part of the book also states the story of Perry’s past life. This allows the reader to get closer to Perry and even to sympathize with him. The third part, “Answer,” is about the investigation of the crime and the officials trying to track down the killers. I am not done with this part yet, so I do not know what happens at the end of it. The book is divided into these sections so the reader can focus on a specific theme and plot string. I think in the fourth section, the killers will be caught and interrogated.
ReplyDeleteIn Cold Blood is divided into four different sections. The first section is on the background information of both the Clutter family and their killers. The second section is about the town’s reaction to the murder and the beginning of the investigation. The third section is the interrogation of the killers and putting all the pieces together. Each section is long but is organized through different paragraphs. This divide works well with the story because each section has a main theme and ends on a cliff hanger. This creates a level of suspense. For example the whole first section is about the Clutter family and then, just like that, they are all dead and the town is left extremely scared. After the murder we hear from the perspective of Bobby’s youngest brother, Larry. It says, “Bobby began to cry… He couldn’t remember ever seeing Bobby cry, and he didn’t want to, so he lowered his eyes.” Then the story shifts back to Dick and Perry one more time before the section ends, allowing the reader to piece together that those two men are the killers. In the other two sections, Capote constructs a similar steady build up. Each section is very detailed and really pulls the reader into the story whereas if he had written the story in chapters, it would be choppier and wouldn’t allow the reader to fully indulge into the book. Since each section is so extensive and detailed, the reader is on the edge of their seats throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteIn a literary sense, the book could have been almost over after section one. There was a great set-up and character development. The reader has the background of the story and almost all of important characters have been introduced. In fact, the climax of the plot occurs one-fourth of the way through the book: a graphic, planned murder with a "wall covered in blood"(60). Shouldn't the book be over shortly after the murder? I have not read this far, but the only option I can think of is that the climax is when the killers are found and convicted. This would be something out of the ordinary for a murder mystery novel. Perhaps,this is another proof as to why one cannot read "In Cold Blood" as a work of fiction.
ReplyDeleteThe first section provides details about the Clutter family. It introduces the members of the family, and describes who they were. This section also describes Dick and Perry and their trip to Holcomb. It ends with the night of the murder. The second section describes the people in the town’s reactions to the murder, and also provides more details about Dick and Perry. The reader learns about their families and childhoods and begins to sympathize with them, more specifically Perry. The third section describes the capture, interrogation, and imprisonment of Dick and Perry. There is also a fourth, and final section. Each of the sections ends with a cliffhanger. After the first section, the reader wants to know if Dick and Perry really killed the Clutters. After reading the second section, the reader wants to know if Dick and Perry will be captured. After the third section, the readers wants to know what will happen to Dick and Perry. I think dividing the story into these sections keeps the reader interested and wanting to know what happens next. Capote writes “The handcuffed men, white-faced and blinking blindly, glistened in the glare of flashbulbs and floodlights. The cameramen, pursuing the prisoners and the police into the courthouse and up three flights of stairs, photographed the door of the county jail slamming shut ”(248). The way in which Capote writes these sentences keeps the reader interested in the story.
ReplyDeleteCapote divided In Cold Blood into four sections. The first section describes in great detail the Clutter family, and background information about their lives. It also expresses the murder of the family. The second section informs the reader of the town's reaction to the Clutter’s death. The news came as a shock to almost everyone in Holcomb: “Of all people in all the world, the Clutters were the least likely to be murdered” (85). This sections also talks about Dewey’s first investigations, and Perry’s childhood. The third section is about tracking down the murderers, and the interviews with them. By dividing the story into different sections, it leaves the reader with an eagerness to know the outcome of the case, and it is a more organized way to write.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTruman Capote’s choice to divide his novel into sections not only allows the plot to flow smoother, but also allows the reader to understand on a continuously deeper level, Dick and Perry, the murderers. The first section, “The Last to See Them Alive”, discusses the period of time previous to the murder and the murder itself. The second, “Persons Unknown”, elaborates on the aftermath of the murder and majority of the investigation. Part three, “Answer”, tells about the capture of the murderers and their confessions. While part four, presumably, will contain their punishment, the death penalty. Logically, this order makes complete sense, it is consecutive and takes on a very factual, journalistic approach: part of Capote’s main objective in his novel. However, more analytically, each section delves deeper into the lives of Dick and Perry, who are the main characters of the novel. In “The Last to See Them Alive”, the physical characteristics of the characters are explained, yet in section two, the two murderers become more humanized as their life stories are told. Furthermore, section three attempts to shed light on the humane aspects of Dick and Perry and even attempts to give motives for their actions, explaining that their lives “had been no bed of roses but pitiful” (246). The account of the murder, step by step in each section, unfolds parallel to the revelation of the true characteristics of Dick and Perry.
ReplyDeleteIn Cold Blood is divided into four different sections. The first section gives a brief introduction to the characters, mainly the Clutters. This section also talks about the affect the murder had on the townspeople. However, it fails to go into detail about the murder itself. The second section discusses the police investigation and how the murderers escaped. The third section includes the capture of the murderers and the interviews that follow. Capote splits up the book into different sections to help keep the reader interested. In the first few pages of the book, Capote writes about “four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives” (5). However, he doesn't discuss the main details of the murder until the very end of the book. Capote keeps the reader in suspense throughout the book which keeps the book interesting.
ReplyDeleteTruman Capote's decision to divide the book into four sections allows the reader to have a clearer understanding of the events that occurred. The sections are divided thematically allowing the reader to fully comprehend every aspect of the story. Each section gives a comprehensive account of one part of the story. Throughout the sections the reader is provided with more information and learns more about the murder as well as the murderers. The first section provides background about the victims and murderers and recounts the murder itself. The manner in which the Clutters are described is encapsulated by their neighbor Stoecklein,’’ Gentle, kindly people’’ (66). The next section describes the consequences of the murder and the investigation, and the third section continues the end of the investigation and the murderers’ confessions. New knowledge is added to the account of the murder as the sections progress.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBy dividing the book into four sections Capote leaves the reader in suspense on many occasions. Often ending a section with a cliffhanger, Capote keeps the reader engaged and interested in the story. For example, at the end of section two Perry and Dick are attempting to get a ride from Mexico City. At this point in the story it is unclear whether or not the duo will be caught and prosecuted. The last thing the reader sees of the pair is the two of them singing, “Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!” (155) The reader is left to wonder about the fate of the murders. By dividing the story this way Capote makes the story feel like a real case; never knowing what will happen to the suspects.
ReplyDeleteCapote does not divide his work into four separate sections, but rather four connecting steps along the path of understanding this murder case. Each section discusses a central concept present in every crime case. The first section, The Last to See Them Alive, discusses the victims and shows certain important events leading up to the murder. The second section, Persons Unknown, follows the murderers and investigates their true character. The third section, Answer, gives insight into the rationale of the murderers. The fourth section, The Corner, shows the results of these actions, and thereby wraps up the case (I presume). To fully appreciate each section, one must see the previous sections. In section three, Answer, it would be impossible to truly understand what Perry means as he explains, “I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat” (244), unless you analyzed Perry as a real person and saw his major flaws. Capote arranges his work into these four section in order to help the reader better comprehend each stage in this murder case and how it fits into the case as a whole.
ReplyDeleteIn Cold Blood has four sections which all focus on a different part of the story. This format works very well as a journalistic work. Capote used the sections to make the book extremely organized, and Capote made the story very easy to follow. The book also has short chapters which usually means a switch in the scene. In The Last to See them Alive, the book goes back and forth between the people in Holcomb and Dick and Perry. This format makes the book more like a list of evidence and less like a linear story. The reader hears multiple testimonies from many different people all from different perspectives. The reader gets to then piece that information together.
ReplyDeleteCapote divides his book into four sections to help the reader focus on the present issue and not look at the murder case as a whole. By the story unfolding this way, it enhances the thrill of the case for the reader. The first section introduces the characters, primarily the Clutters and the killers, and ends with their murder. The second section is primarily about the hunt for the criminals and an insight into their lives. The third section begins with a Floyd Wells being the first big breakthrough of the case; "Not only had he known the murdered family, he knew very well who had murdered them," (160). It ends with the killers confessing and section four starts with their trial back in Kansas. Capote makes four sections in attempt to guide the reader in grasping the current situation, and by taking in and understanding each step of the murder mystery, it makes the novel even better.
ReplyDeleteHad this novel had been a newspaper article, albeit a very long one, the story could have ended after the first section. This, however, was not the format that Capote chose to take. Instead, he decided to split the novel up into 4 sections, both making the work organized and interesting. Each section has a specific purpose, a message meant to extrapolate a certain set of emotions from the reader. The first section's purpose is to give a background on the victims. The second's purpose is show the dynamic duo's adventure. The third is to show the ending. The fourth is to show the aftermath. Each section is highlighted by a phrase. For the first section, the phrase is "four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives. The format of the sections allows the reader to feel an array of emotions essential to understanding the full picture.
ReplyDeleteCapote divides his book into four section: The Last to See Them Alive, Persons Unknown, The Answer, and The Corner. All of these sections are named after stages in the murder/prosecution process. “The Last to See Them Alive” is the murder and the initial police investigation when they search for clues of the last people to see them live. “Persons Unknown” is the period that the police are looking for the identity of the murders, but still do not know yet. “The Answer” is when they actually find out who the murderers are and catch them. Finally, “The Corner” which I haven’t read yet, but has been referenced once before: “‘You could be wrong. And if you are, it means The Corner’... the ultimate penalty in the State of Kansas” (188). I think that Capote divides the book into sections to convey the stages in the story: The event/murder, the immediate aftermath and shock, the process after the shock solving the murder, and the conclusion.
ReplyDelete