Consequences Beyond Death

When a crime occurs, one normally thinks that it only affects some. The murdered, the killers, and the loved ones of the dead but it goes beyond that. In my previous post I discussed how the crime of the Clutters affected their whole immediate community, but there are others. When we watch shows like CSI or NCIS, we never stop to think how these crimes later affect the investigators. Granted these shows are fiction but in real life there are detectives and CSI's that go home after dealing with death all day long.

Capote knows this and when he subtitled his book, "A true account of multiple murders and its consequences." he thought about all kinds of consequences. More than focusing on the obvious consequences a crime entails, he decided to expand it. In the prefix the reader knows that Capote did intensive research to write this book and talked to everyone who had something to say about this case.

A very unique approach to the consequences mentioned is Al Dewey, the key investigator of the crime. Instead of simply mentioning the facts about the investigation and what was done by the team, Capote captures how this crime deeply affects the personal life of this character. The boundary between work and home is violated for Al dewey since he even gets calls to his home about the murder. Whether they be inquiries from family friends or fake confessions, the investigator can't escape the murder.

Dewey's children also feel the threat of what has occurred. The youngest son is described as feeling endangered by it even though he vaguely understands what is going on. Mrs. Dewey also feels a change in their home environment that goes beyond the crime scene photos that now sit at their kitchen table. She is supportive of her husband but the consequences of the murder are spreading to her children.

Its understandable when she asks her husband: " Alvin, do you think we'll get back to normal living?" (pg 105). After a traumatic event everyone wants to be offered security and return to what was familiar. The consequences for this family is a complete change in this and probably, no return to normal living. At least, not until the crime is solved. As if Capote knows this, when Dewey is about to respond the telephone rings and puts and end to that conversation. It practically freshadows the idea that until the crime is solved, normal living will always be interrupted.