In Cold Blood

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   jamie-wheeler Teacher
   College - Sophomore

   One of the main themes in Capote's book is the issue of nature vs. nurture.  For example, did the killers become this way because of the environment in which they were raised, or is there some innate evil about these men that propelled their henious crimes? Through his extensive interviews, Capote tries to get to the bottom of this question.  In the end, it seems that nurture may have played a larger role, but nature may also have played a significant part.  Many people who have similiar background (alcoholic parents, suicide, abuse) do not go on to become killers.  In Capote's estimation, I would argue that he sees Smith and his partner, Willy Jay, as being a lethal (literally) combination of the two:  perhaps two-thirds nurture and one part nature. 

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   http://www.enotes.com/cold-blood/themes

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   Posted by jamie-wheeler on Sunday August 26, 2007 at 5:42 PM