Question 2

[elliefarley]

Personally, I liked where the book stopped, and I thought it ended in a very unique way. You would have thought it would have stopped right after they were hanged, but adding in the extra scene between Dewey and Susan Kidwell at the Clutters' graves really added to the ending. It was nice to get a little closure. Although you know the killers died, knowing that those directly affected by the Clutters' deaths had moved on and continued life happily, really created this feeling of closure. Capote did take a very long time to build to this ending but I think all the extra details he added were important. Talking about other death row inhabitants and other murder cases emphasized that although the Clutter slaying was a tragedy, there are other bad things that happen, too. Perry and Hickock aren't the only criminals in the world. I think Capote was trying to show that this case was just one of many others and we have to continue to remember that it happens everywhere. So although the ending was a little long, I think every bit of it was important to the message Capote was trying to get across. 

[ajguth]

Although I had originally wished that the ending had come a little sooner, you provide an excellent point. By describing how life in Holcomb continued on after the murder of the Clutters and the punishment of Dick and Perry, the audience gains closure. This also reverts back to the beginning of the book in a way, as Holcomb was a calm and friendly place before the tragedy, and the fact that Capote mentions that it will slowly work back to its former ways provides the audience with a sense of ease.