Capote's developing relationship with the murderers in his
nonfiction masterpiece is almost as intriguing as his writing style. In Cold
Blood begins objectively enough. Capote evinces sympathy for the Clutter
family and describes in gory detail the heinous acts of Perry Smith and Dick
Hickock.
However, from the first time Capote discusses the
murderers in "Part I: The Last to See Them Alive," he clearly shows that Hickock is a
bullish character who leads and belittles Smith. While this from all accounts appears to
be an accurate portrayal of the pair's relationship, Capote is careful to
provide numerous examples of Hickock's mistreatment of
Smith.
In "Part IV: The Corner," Capote meticulously
outlines Smith's very difficult background, Dr. Satten's evaluation of Smith which can
be interpreted by some readers as an excuse for Smith's actions, and Smith's childlike
confession, in which he states,
" '[The Clutters] never hurt me. Like other
people. Like other people have all my life. Maybe it's just that the Clutters were the
one who had to pay for it.'
"
While Capote certainly
never directly writes in In Cold Blood that Smith should not be
executed, his favorable opinion of Smith reveals itself through the author's more
pitying depiction of Smith compared to his harsher evaluation of
Hickock.
Overall, it is difficult to pinpoint one quotation
that demonstrates Capote's bias; but interestingly, whenever my students read this book,
they are disappointed that Capote did not devote more time to the victims and their fate
than to the murderers, their travels, and their worldviews.
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