Historical/Cultural Background: Author Truman Capote grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana and spent a lot of time in Los Angeles, California, where he died. He had a troubled childhood with divorced parents and an absent mother. In 1959, Capote came across a small newspaper section regarding a mysterious murder of a family of four in the rural town of Holcomb, Kansas. Capote wanted to write a nonfiction novel that contained more intricate details than any newspaper article would ever contain. So, intrigued by the story, he began his 5 years of research. During this period Capote became very well acquainted with the two murderers Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith, who were executed in 1965 a year before the book's publication. Famous friend Harper Lee accompanied Capote as they interviewed local residents and delved deep into the minds of the two psychotics as they plotted to kill the innocent Clutter family, who were active members of the Methodist church and owned an 18-acre farm. The two killers were compulsive thieves and didn't want to leave any marks when they ventured into the Clutter house to take the safe full of Herb Clutter's well-deserved money. They were about to flee to a new life in Mexico, where no one would know who they were or what they had done. Use of Language/Syntax: Truman Capote uses several linguistic devices to attract readers, such as pathos towards one of them. of the main characters Smith. Smith is one of the murderers who killed the Clutter family, it came out as the most brutal murder but as time goes by the audience builds sympathy towards Smith. It turned out that he had an incredibly unfortunate childhood, without abusive parents and nuns, and with little hope or education, "However, he found... middle of paper... important characters that Smith and Dick are both extremely aware of of their image and this greatly affects their lifestyle and decision making Capote reveals the life stories of both killers and the audience begins to realize that the rival the two hold is due to their battle for self-recognition. Both have a very low social status compared to the Clutters; they have lived in prison, have no money and nowhere to go. Especially for Perry, this crime involved with the Clutters brings back feelings of shame from the past as “overly sensitive to the criticisms that others make of him, and cannot tolerate being made fun of (Capete 297).” There is “jealousy” towards the Clutter family because of their stable lifestyle which many would have grateful to have, they both committed a horrible crime just to have the chance to start over..