Capote’s use of details, diction and tone leads to judgmental views and discrimination while Adam counterfeits these to reconcile the readers’ views about the murderer and his family. Capote’s selection of details contrasts with Adam’s which confirms their different views about Dick Hicock. In the novel, the author chose to write that Dick’s dad said that when Dick “…came out of Lansing, he was a plain stranger to me. You couldn’t talk to him. The whole world was against Dick Hicock..” By including this detail, Capote indicates that he wants the readers to characterize Dick as a criminal and an immoral person. He shows that even his own father had negative thoughts about him. On the contrary, Adam shows that Walter Hicock had a hard time believing that his “…brother murdered anyone. I still cannot see Dick doing that.” This conflicts with Capote’s portrayal of Dick. Adam tries to show that Dick’s family trusted him and how they are not convinced that Dick could do such a horrid deed. Adam’s and Capote’s diction demonstrates their contradictory conceptions of Dick and his family. In the article, Adam stated that Walter Hicock “…could never quite escape the shadow that loomed over his name.” The word “shadow” represents darkness and “loomed” makes it sound like something or someone is trapped in that darkness. By using both of these words that have a negative connotation, she reinforces the idea that Walter was “trapped” and deeply affected as a result of the murder. Also, it somehow exaggerates the extent of the pain that Walter because of his brother’s deeds. Conversely, in the novel, a farmer said, “Dick Hicock! Don’t talk to me about Dick Hicock! If ever I met the devil!...Dick would’ve gone to jail more times than you can count…” Since In Cold Blood is creative nonfiction, Capote would have most likely changed the farmer’s original words to exaggerate the idea that Dick was known as devious and dishonest person. He wants Dick’s
