The overarching theme of In Cold Blood, if it can be deemed a theme, is the essence of America itself. The America depicted in Capote's work is an expansive terrain of deserts, beaches, and plains, dotted with laundromats and diners. One cannot help but be struck by the sheer vastness, the number of miles covered, and the multitude of miles yet to be explored. Dick Hickock and Perry Smith journey over eight hundred miles in a single day to carry out their crimes. Subsequently, they travel to Mexico, return to Kansas, and move through Florida, Texas, and Nevada. Perry's childhood is marked by following his parents from Texas to Oregon. Later, he and his father relocate to Wyoming, Idaho, and Alaska. As a young adult, Perry ventures from Seattle to Honolulu, then to Worcester, Massachusetts; St. Joseph, Missouri; McCook, Nebraska; and New York City. Perry "washed dishes in an Omaha restaurant, pumped gas at an Oklahoma garage, and worked a month on a ranch in Texas." This narrative evokes an older America, reminiscent of the Old West, filled with pioneers and cowboys—a land of restless travelers seeking their fate elsewhere, where the ideal job, fortune, or gold might be just a town, state, or region away, be it in Alaska, Florida, or Oklahoma. This is a nation that, with its sheer magnitude and diverse landscapes, seems to promise abundance, more than enough for everyone, inspiring dreams and wanderlust. That size and variety underpin the myth of America, a place somewhat forgotten due to industrialization and mass media. Capote's book revives this America in our memories.