Capote's Belief in Capital Punishment

[benemery]

At the end of the day, Capote believed in Capital punishment, but he didn't like it. In the novel, he describes Death Row inmates as being drains to taxpayers, and how even mildly talented lawyers can keep these inmates alive for years. Capote is very careful to emphasize the legal b.s. of the process. He's also careful to consider every possible opinion on the subject, from Judge Tate to the convicts. However, at the end of the day, Capote places an overt emphasis on the bad qualities of the legal process, as well as specifics of the hangings like how Andrews didn't die for 19 minutes.

[gmearns]

I think all of the characteristics that you stated of Capote's opinion on capital punishment clearly proved he did not believe in it. His point of showing the financial vacuum that is capital punishment shows the economical issues of the death penalty (In Kansas it costs on average over 70% more for death penalty than life in prison) Also his emphasis on mediocre lawyers keeping death row inmates alive shows his disgust in due process. Lastly Andrews taking 19 minutes to die is a motif for the ethical errors that Capote sees in capital punsihment.