Death Penalty in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood Essay Example

In Cold Blood, written by Truman Capote is a nonfiction novel that elaborates on the Clutter family murders conducted by Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. In an excerpt that covers Dick Hickock’s death, Capote implies his perspective that Hickock’s execution and the death penalty overall are flawed through the description of the casual atmosphere present during Hickock’s execution to subtly reinforce the idea that the execution is ineffective in punishing criminals.

Capote begins by presenting the warehouse where executions take place to be a “bleakly lighted cavern” that showed no remorse nor dignity. Contrary to what one may expect from a room where executions take place, this warehouse seemed to be unfit, as if no one cared for the activities held in the room. Capote also recognizes conversations that were held in the event of Hickock’s execution, highlighting that they were “casual conversations[s]” from witnesses present. The details of the witnesses and the warehouse overall show the atypical unsympathetic attitudes of those present at the time of Hickock’s execution. The unusual uncaring attitudes emphasize Captoe’s view that the death penalty is taken lightly despite it involving the purposeful death of a human being, including Hickock who was executed by hanging. Capote’s audience realizes that the death penalty is a poor punishment.

When it comes to the death penalty, Capote argues that the ends do not justify the means as it is excessive and ineffective. Capote emphasizes Hickock’s disappointment upon finding out the surviving Clutter family members were absent as he felt that without them, “the ritual of vengeance was not being properly observed.” In this case, not only does this execution not serve as an effective punishment, but it also does not provide the grieving family with comfort. The ineffectiveness is also present when Hickock was standing on the gallows expressing no fear nor concern. Asking if the surviving Clutter family members were present show how even though he was near being hanged, he expressed no regard for his own life and never truly understood the extent of his crime and the punishment that follows. Following Hickock’s hanging, he was “placed on a litter and shrouded under a blanket, was carried… out into the night” showing that nothing significant happened following his execution. The casualness of Hickock’s execution shows that Capote feels that because the criminals were able to perform a crime worthy of the death sentence, they would obviously show no remorse on their execution date.