Tone – In Cold Blood

 Michael Decker

Mrs. Robinson

AP English 

Objective: “not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased”Subjective: “existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought”

 ————————Dictionary.com

In my humble opinion, I feel very earnestly that Capote was very subjective (which is why I feel that this book is so revered).  He not once added a commentary by the narrator of the story.  Not once did he show an opinion.  He presented facts.  And just because the facts favor one side does not constitute any role of subjective linguistics.  Capote created sympathy for the two vagrants as he depicted how awful their lives where – Perry dealing with rampant suicide as an adult and as a child, a drunken mother and very stern dad who was very hard on him, and Dick who dealt with not being able to go to College even on a scholarship (knowing it would attract attention to the American attitude Intelligence and will power equals success, with “minimal” influence of money) because it would cost too much money.  Even so, Capote showed how dear the Clutters were to the community (5,000 showing up for the auction, not one person having something bad to say about a single one of them, everyone’s understanding of the situation with the Mother, Nancy being seen as the person who could do anything — cook, teach, be popular, be smart — and was kind to everyone, and on a last note, everyone’s interest in who could ever do harm to those people).  He also showed how they had humble beginnings (Mr. Clutter being raised on a poor farm and taking 7 months to take his boss’s spot) and how they didn’t feel to be above anyone (Nancy repeatedly being called not spoiled).  Also, Capote showed how Mr. Clutter was a community man and very loved for it (Nancy staying at the county school, being a prominent member of the 4-H club).   Capote showed how both sides felt.  He showed how the mother of Dick knew he was a good kid but knew he had to pay up for what he does.  Capote continuously described Dick and Perry in a “rose-colored” fashion — not using words of spite or hate but words that truly described them.  Capote made sure that he showed how both sides could be supported by any individual.  He is surely brilliant!  

As you can see from my definitions at the beginning, the book is not opinion-oriented (thus non-subjective) and is very clearly fact-based (thus objective).  

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