An Analysis of In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Essay

Without giving away any of the forthcoming plot, Truman Capote presents us with a deep sense of negativity throughout the first few paragraphs as he sets the scene for novel. Every mention of a location is swiftly followed by a feeling of emptiness: â€Å"Holcomb, too, can be seen from great distances. Not that there is much to see†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This automatically presents the reader with an air of negativity, almost pre-empting what is going to occur later on in the thrilling novel. Later in the paragraph, Capote presents us with the sentence â€Å"the streets, unnamed, unshaded, unpaved†. This emphasises the feeling that something bad is going to happen by suggesting that because the area/location is completely un-protected, any life that enters the boundaries of Holcomb is also un-protected from what will turn out to be a true contradiction of humanity. The fact that the houses are described as â€Å"one-storey frame affairs† further emphasises the idea that it is completely un-protected. Capote presents us with the idea of a forgotten town, or even a ghost town in a manner of speaking. As Capote details the different establishments in Holcomb, he soon causes juxtaposition of mood: â€Å"Holcomb Bank. The bank failed in 1933†. Capote does not present any form of positivity in the first couple of paragraphs, and the detailing of a bank that had been abandoned for many years adds to the ghostly atmosphere. This ghostly atmosphere is directly linked to a feeling of death and decay. Perhaps these themes will be investigated as the novel progresses. I feel Capote cleverly presents us with a subtle plot overview without actually telling us what is going to happen. He simply presents us with an atmosphere; an atmosphere that is sure to stick in our minds as we read the novel.