Nancy Clutter
January 2, 1943 - November 15, 1959
About Nancy
Nancy Mae Clutter was born on January 2, 1943 to her parents, Herb and Bonnie Clutter. She had three siblings altogether, two older sisters, Beverley and Eveanna, and one younger brother named Kenyon. Nancy lived in Holcomb, Kansas and was known as "the town sweetheart". Nancy had also been dating a local basketball player, Bobby Rupp; however, her father did not approve of this as a long term relationship, for Nancy and Bobby were of different religions.
Importance of her Character to In Cold Blood
Nancy Clutter was one of the main Clutter family members who was Murdered in Holcomb on November 15, 1959. Nancy, her brother Kenyon, and her mother and father, Bonnie and Herb Clutter, were murdered by Perry Smith and Dick Hickock. The murders of her and her family members, is the event that set off the rest of the book. Without the murders happening, there would be no book.
The Clutter Family
This is a picture of the Clutter family around Christmas time. Nancy is sitting on the floor by the fireplace next to her brother, Kenyon, and mother, Bonnie.
Bobby Rupp
As previously mentioned, Bobby Rupp was dating Nancy at the time of her death. Nancy and Bobby had been dating for several years, and Bobby was Nancy's only serious relationship. Bobby was known as the last person to see the Clutter family alive (besides the murderers).
Capote's Character Compared to the Real Nancy Clutter
In the book, Nancy is a sixteen well known and well liked girl. She was class president, achieved well in school, was a leader in the 4-H club and the Young Methodist League. She enjoyed teaching younger girls to cook, sew, and to play music. In the book Nancy was described as the "perfect girl" in Holcomb; however, Nancy's surviving siblings said that Capote made Nancy too desirable almost. The siblings said Nancy wasn't as popular as Capote portrayed her, and they said Nancy probably would not have liked being portrayed as being perfect,
Purpose of the Book
Capote's purpose of writing In Cold Blood was to test a new sort of writing. He wanted the book to not just be journalism but also an interesting story as well. To do this, Capote had to make his characters more interesting than what they actually were, which is what he does to Nancy Clutter. Capote makes Nancy out to be the "perfect" girl, when in really she was just a good girl who worked her. Capote made her seem very much loved, which she was, but he exaggerated how much she was liked to make the story even more tragic than what it was.