In Cold Blood

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. For both Perry and Dick, the American Dream feels just out of reach. Have you ever felt that society’s promises of success were inaccessible to you or to someone you know? How did that experience shape your perspective?

2. Perry’s recurring dream of the “yellow bird” represents his longing for escape and transcendence. What personal symbols or recurring dreams have provided you comfort or hope during difficult times?

3. The book explores the ways different characters cope with death and mortality. Has reading about the Clutters’ final day and the executions affected your own thoughts about mortality? If so, how? If not, why not?

4. Many Holcomb residents found their sense of security shattered after the murders. What do you think makes some people better able to adjust to events that alter their perception of safety than others?

5. The relationship between Perry and Dick showcases different expressions of masculinity. Have you observed relationships where gender expectations created tensions or complications?

6. Perry values artistic expression but struggles with his self-image in a society that prizes traditional masculinity. Have you ever felt torn between your authentic self and a persona you felt pressured to project?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. In Cold Blood was published in 1966 amid significant social change in America. Where in the book do you see the influence of events like the civil rights movement? How might the book’s themes of violence, justice, and the American Dream be received differently if it were published today?

2. The novel examines capital punishment through its depiction of death row and the executions. How has the book influenced your perspective on the death penalty, and how do current debates about criminal justice compare to those of the 1960s?

3. Capote portrays Holcomb as an isolated rural community disrupted by outside forces. How does this portrayal reflect broader tensions between rural and urban America, both then and now?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Capote uses various symbols throughout the novel, such as Herbert Clutter’s orchard and Perry’s yellow bird. How do these symbols enhance the themes of paradise, mortality, and the American Dream?

2. The title invites multiple interpretations. Does it refer only to the Clutter murders, or could it also apply to the state’s execution of Perry and Dick? What does this ambiguity contribute to the book’s moral exploration?

3. Capote’s sympathetic portrayal of Perry has drawn comparisons to Steinbeck’s approach to characters in Of Mice and Men, particularly in how both authors explore the relationship between personal trauma and violence. How effectively does Capote help readers understand Perry’s psychology without excusing his actions?

4. How does Capote’s portrayal of Perry differ from his portrayal of Dick? What narrative techniques does he use to elicit different reactions from readers toward each man?

5. The physical appearances of Perry (his damaged legs) and Dick (his lopsided face) often serve as metaphors for their internal states. How does Capote use physical descriptions throughout the book to reveal character?

6. The book ends with Dewey’s memory of encountering Susan Kidwell, who reminds him of what Nancy might have become. What does this ending suggest about the themes of the book, particularly regarding mortality and the American Dream?