Gothicism In Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood

Truman Capote is one of the most outstanding writers in the history of American literature. He is a writer in the Southern Gothic tradition,and his nonfiction work In Cold Blood is largely in that tradition. In this work, violence, death and distorted characters are all portrayed with Gothic techniques. This thesis will apply the theory of the Gothic novel to the discussion of the Gothic features and their functions in In Cold Blood to explore the author’s views of fragmented men in a fragmented society.This thesis consists of three parts, and the main part has four chapters. First, the introduction part summarizes the author’s creative features and his representative work, In Cold Blood. And then based on the research review of In Cold Blood at home and abroad, the topic of this thesis is put forward. This part also introduces the theoretical basis,research methods, basic views and the content. The first chapter analyzes the Gothic settings, for instance, the desolate Holcomb, the dark night and basement as well as the funeral and graves. All these Gothic settings produce horrible atmosphere in this novel. The second chapter mainly discusses three classic Gothic characters---Perry, Dick and Mrs. Clutter.Perry and Dick, who are at the bottom of society and are brutally tortured by society so that they are psychologically distorted. For Mrs. Clutter, she becomes mentally ill after her marriage. All these Gothic characters’ personalities and fates have the relation with the social background of theday. Therefore, the analysis of these characters is beneficial to the research of the social situation. The third chapter analyzes the Gothic plots, mainly including unexpected murder, the frequent appearance of bloody and violent events, as well as strong religious atmosphere. All of these Gothic elements vividly demonstrate the morbid society. The fourth chapter illustrates the significance of these Gothic features. These Gothic features increase aesthetic value, strengthen the theme, as well as make the author profoundly express his criticism for the distorted and morbid society and show his concern for the fragmented man and the fragmented society. The conclusion part briefly reviews the main idea of the body part of the thesis and illustrates the main ideas by the above analysis.Capote’s writing style not only improves the artistic level of the novel,but also profoundly shows the reality of society.Capote uses Gothic features, which combine both the inner world and outer world of human beings. The author releases the repressed emotions through the Gothic horror, and these abnormal extreme emotions just come from the outside social reality. Therefore, In Cold Blood is not only a record of simple news but is to express the author’s humanistic concern for the people and society.