How_Does_Presentation_of_the_Clutters_Build_in_Chapter_1_

How does the presentation of the characters in the first part build sympathy for the events in the Clutter family' As a result of the actions that took place within the Clutter family home on the night of 14th November 1959 anyone would automatically sympathize with the family and the people who loved for them. However, due the presentational devices used by Capote throughout the first part of the novel the audience develop a relationship with each individual character which is demolished after their murder. This encounters the reader’s feelings to increase allowing them to sympathize with the family members much more than they would if they were to read about the family in a newspaper report. Capote develops each character as the first chapter unfolds; he presents each one in an extremely positive and almost holy light enabling the audience to see them for the good natural people they were. The all American girl, Nancy Clutter, is the symbol of High School perfection she is able to tackle anything that comes her way “how a girl not yet seventeen could haul such a wagon load.” Nancy is a ray of light within the dull town; she is seen as a one off individual as she can do just about everything for her everyday life “she practically runs that big house”. Nancy is presented to the audience as a big hearted loving person who would go out of her way for anyone who was in need of her help “there isn’t anybody like Nancy”. By painting this ideal picture for Nancy Clutter as both a character and a real person it allows the reader to see her as a wholesome person. The outcome of this representation helps build sympathy for her by the audience after the terrible events that took place. As she is so honest and good the audience want to see her blossom into something successful, due to the murder this does not happen and therefore the audience dwell in sympathy for her. After Capote opens the door into Kenyon’s isolated life the audience automatically gain sympathized feel for him as a character, he is unlike his popular sister or his respected father but much like his mother who is mentally ill. As he spends most of his time hidden away creating different types of machinery it comes across to the audience that he is extremely lonely, due to him being the misfit of the family he finds it hard to make friends so instead he makes machinery. He is creating his own fun as there is no one there to accompany him to do any other, this is an upsetting image created, a young boy awkward boy who finds it hard to fit in and has very little friends. This allows the audience to immediately have sympathy for him unlike the rest of his family, when the murder takes place the sadness that the reader feels towards him only increases. He was a lonely person anyway and all he had was his family around him and now both his family and his creations, his life have been taken from him by two criminals. “The master of River Valley Farm, Herbert William Clutter” the first sentence which begins to describe Mr. Clutter summarizes him in one go. The word ‘master’ used almost presents him as the King or the President of the town, the residents have so much respect for him that this word fits Mr. Clutter’s description perfectly. Even though the audience have not met Mr. Clutter they quickly gain an enormous amount of respect for him and look up to him as a character due to all the good work he is involved in. The characterization of Herb Clutter on his looks and physique ‘knew himself to be in first rate condition’ immediately creates physiognomy, his faultless features reflect in his immaculate personality and lifestyle. The good deeds he commits for his and family and others around him ‘he was currently the chairman of Kansas Conference of Farm Organisations’ enables the reader too see what an honest man he is. A strict Catholic man which shows the innocence of Mr. Clutter, as an audience we develop a strong liking for Herb Clutter and respect him a faithful family man. Due to all the strong positive aspects that are connected to Mr. Clutter it permits the audience to sympathize with him after he is murdered. The goodness that surrounds him helps build the audiences sympathy up as they see a good innocent man murdered for something he worked hard for and for something that will support his family and keep them comfortable. The conditioned and well looked after Bonnie Clutter has almost become a myth within the Holcomb town; though she used to be just like her daughter “pretty and popular” due to her newly developed mental state she surrounds herself with the comfort of the darkness. Much like the relationship that the audience develops with her son Kenyon, they automatically feel a strong sense of pity towards her. She, like her son, is isolated from the rest of the town although the pity we feel towards Bonnie is much stronger than the one we feel for Kenyon. As she had used to have the perfect life with lots of loving friends but due to her illness she no longer has this, she is depressed and alone now. As a mother she is missing out on her youngest children’s lives “they are very efficient. They don’t need me” she feels as though they have raised themselves and now can take care of themselves without her. Because of the absence she feels as though they no longer have a mother. She can not enjoy the memorable moments that they could have shared together. This helps create compassion from the audience to Bonnie as we can see she is aware of this and is obviously upset about it. As a reader we feel sympathy towards Bonnie when she is murdered as unbeknown to her there was a slim chance that she could have pulled away from her depressive state and enjoyed the rest of her life like ‘her old self’ and seen her children grow, but in response to what took place she ended her life in upsetting state. She would be remembered not as the woman who she was before but the mythical wife of Herb Clutter who spent the majority of her days shut away in room with the darkness wrapped around her as a substitute for her busy family.