Truman Capote Research

Truman Capote was best known for his vivacious and eccentric way of life, as well as his works in the 20th Century. While reading his first novel ever printed by him, Other Voices, Other Rooms, the characters and story line that Capote created was one that would clearly strike a touching insolence to many readers. Not only does Capote fascinate readers with his life, but also with the heart of life and nostalgia that is created when reading any of his work. Capote’s writing career began very prematurely and increased throughout the years of his life.

Once Capote finished school, he began writing for The New Yorker and eventually started writing short stories. At the age of seventeen, magazines published many of his stories, which eventually ended up leading to him writing his first novel. Capote ended up writing his first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, in 1948 and it brought almost instantaneous awareness and disgrace. Although it was not one of his most accepted novels, it without doubt got him on the right path. Truman Capote was born on September 30, 1924, where his life began in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he spent very little of his life (Jacob197).

At the age of only four years old, Capote’s parents were divorced. Capote’s mother, Lillie Faulk, then left him to be raised by her family while she went to go become a star (Pimpton 7). Her family lived in Monroeville, Alabama, where Capote spent most of his life living amongst his aunts, uncles, cousins and his friends. People actually consider that when Truman’s mother neglected him, it was the establishment of their relationship in the future (Biography). Throughout his life, Capote grew up being influenced by many of his family members and other peers that bounded him in the small town of Monroeville.

It wasn’t until 1933, that Capote’s mother intended to bring her son to come live with her and her new husband Joe Capote in Manhattan, New York. Capote abandoned the countryside life in Monroe and traded it in for a life in Manhattan with his mother. Joe Capote later on adopted Truman, and by 1935, he changed his name from Truman Streckfus Persons, to Truman Garcia Capote (Biography). In Capote’s later years, he went on to be a success. He lived a glamorous life. He enjoyed to party and never gave a care in the world.

He entertained many of the elite people in the world and on August 25, 1984, Truman Capote died of liver disease at his old friend’s house in Los Angeles, California. Other Voices, Other Rooms is the piece work that he relates to most. In his own words, Capote says, “this symbolized my hunt for my own father, whom I hardly ever saw, and the fact that the man old man is crippled and mute was my way of conveying my own incapability to correspond with my father; I was not only the boy in the story but also the old man”(Pimpton80).

It was recorded as public knowledge that Capote engulfed his stories with his own life experiences, but it was made incredibly apparent in this particular novel, with his expression and approach. One particular example would be the un-canny similarity of the main character Joel to Capote himself, “…too pretty, too delicate and fair-skinned…and a girlish tenderness softened his eyes…”(Capote4). Another method that Capote used a lot was his talent to describe a scene with incredible accuracy and portrayal, “A face shudder like a white stunning moth, smiled.

She beckoned to him, shining and silver, and he knew he must go: unafraid, not hesitating, he paused only at the garden’s edge where, as though he’d forgotten something, he stopped and looked back at the bloomless, descending blue, at the boy he had left behind. ” (Capote231). Throughout his novels, Capote uses these strong metaphors and descriptive language to show that his character, Joel, came to the house as one person and leaving as another. One with new experiences with life. Many people knew Truman Capote as a literary genius (Biography).

His work was different yet satisfying. Many of his characters are memorable, along with the places they lived and explored. Capote put us in his world and a large amount of readers enjoyed how he was able to grab your attention when you were reading. At times Capote may have been socially awkward, everyone remembers him as a very noteworthy author in American history. The beginning of Capote’s writing career began in his early years where he fell under the supervision of his instructor (Plimpton 470).

Although he was very unsuccessful in school, and never attended college, many exams confirmed that he had incredible intellect. Many of his novels showed his intelligence by the way he would describe and lure readers into his stories. His personality was different and it got readers attention. Even as a child, Capote was regarded as “…Prim and proper Lord Faunteroy…Incredibly protective of his clothes [and look]” which made many believe is what had caused him to ultimately be publicly gay (Pimpton2).

Although nobody knew Capote better then his friend Harper Lee; who actually based the character of Dill in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird on the young Capote (Pimpton 2). Despite the way he may have acted or done things, Truman Capote was nothing less then a mastermind. Many of his novels are remembered and loved by the various techniques used by Capote. He was truly unlike any other person in this world. Intelligent, different, and even socially awkward at times, Truman Capote is one of the most known and remembered authors of the 20th century.