Denial

The theme of denial is quite prevalent throughout In Cold Blood. Though Holcomb is viewed as an innocent, naïve town, they are in fact aware of the brutalities in the world. Instead of coming to terms with these problems, they, as a whole, opt to live in a world of denial. Thus, they cloud the impurities in the world by their deluded sense of reality. A prime example of this is how many residents choose to believe that “Mr. Jones and his family, not the Clutters, were the murderers intended victims” (113). All of the facts that are known about the murders thus far have revealed that the murders were carefully planned, thus indicating that the murderers would not have mixed up their subjects. The civilians choose to ignore this idea because it is easier for them to accept the other family as victims. They find this theory more agreeable because if a family as perfect as the Clutters could be killed then no one is safe. Also, the other family had money to steal where as the Clutters did not and the Holcomb residents do not want to believe that people would kill just to kill. On the other hand, the murderers, who appear quite familiar with the bad aspects of the world also rely on denial to make themselves happier. Perry demonstrates the use of this tactic when describing his sister who killed herself. He “‘tried to believe she slipped,’ for he’d loved Fern. She was ‘such a sweet person,’ so ‘artistic,’ a ‘terrific’ dancer, and she could sing, too” (110-111). For Perry, it is easier to believe that Fern’s death was an accident because then he would not feel responsible for not having tried to save her. This use of denial to be happier more closely ties the seemingly innocent Holcomb residents with the guilty murderers.