Truman Capote's non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood includes aspects of both types of narrative. The nonfiction aspect is told using accurate information

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In Cold Blood Essay

        Truman Capote's non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood includes aspects of both types of narrative. The non-fiction aspect is told using accurate information gathered by many means including interviews. On the other hand, there are times when the book is similar to a novel, with parts invented by Capote to help develop the plot the way he choose. The inclusion of both truth and invention help to create a more powerful work, one that leads the reader to question events as well as wonder what is true and what is not.

        In Cold Blood does not include a large amount of invention compared to most narratives in the novel category but there is enough to be significant. Capote had no way of knowing what the exact events of the Clutters' last day alive might have been. For example, he might have been able to find out that Mr. Clutter and Kenyon attended the 4H meeting, but not that Mr. Clutter had originally planned on taking Nancy. Another example of possible invention is when Nancy received the call from Mrs. Katz. Capote could not have known that “barefoot, pajama-clad, Nancy scampered down the stairs” (p17). Capote uses invention to help characterize the Clutter family, he chooses events that make them seem like good people, with some flaws to make them human but the type of family that most people strive for. Due to this characterization, the family becomes loved by the reader, who is already aware of their fates. Suspense then builds as the reader is unaware of when or how the murders will take place. The work is made more powerful by the characterization of the family because, the reader is able to empathize with them as they are made human. Also, the reader comes to the realization that the Clutters were a normal family, therefore, what happened to them could possibly happen to any one including themselves. This fear adds to the desire for the murders to be caught. Capote's use of invention aids in keeping the reader engaged in the book although most of the events are already known. The ending of In Cold Blood is also invented, one reasoning could be that Capote wanted to end the book on a lighter note. The story follows the same structure as a novel with a clear beginning, a middle with a climax and a resolution. Capote most likely included the fabricated ending to help maintain that novel structure.

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        Truman Capote was able to find a lot of information that would be considered truth through interviews and documents. Capote chooses what parts of the truth he included and emphasized. The characterization of Dick is and Perry is based off of his interviews with them as well as information gathered from their families and those who had interactions with the pair. Capote takes information from documents written at the time of the murder, a couple examples of this would be, “The Kansas City Star printed a lengthy account of the Clutter funeral” (p 96) as well as,  “Alvin Dewey, ...

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