Comparison Essay- Barbara’s letter
In the extract from ‘In Cold Blood’, Capote uses metaphors to express the views of Barbara, writing to her brother Perry from San Francisco. She highlights her disappointment surrounding the events but says she’s willing to forgive him. “It’s no shame to have a dirty face, the shame comes when you keep it dirty” the adjective ‘dirty’ is used as a metaphor representing the sins and actions of Perry.
She pointed out that she wasn’t too pleased with Perry’s actions, which had eventually ended him in prison. She was also aware that her criticism to him was going to result in resentment and actually thought of what could possibly happen “Not to hear from you at all or a letter telling me exactly what you think of me.”

Barbara loved Perry dearly but was angry at him at the same time, and that was the driving force of this passionate letter. Again she wanted Perry to know about her feelings towards him and also to see things from someone’s point of view. She often admitted her faults and weaknesses as human and in the same way she urged Perry that he should take full responsibility of his actions and shouldn’t blame his dad for any wrong doing. “i truthfully believe none of us can take the blame” the adjective ‘truthfully’ reminds us that Barbara is showing her feelings towards what has happened and is speaking very openly with Perry, giving him an acknowledgement of her thoughts and feelings.
Perry’s inabilities to show signs of sincere regret and lack of respect for laws embarrassed her deeply. However as Capote narrated, Barbara’s letter complimented Perry’s intelligence and excellent vocabulary skills. By the time Perry reads this far in the letter, his emotions facing him are very clear; Barbara may have added a compliment to sympathise with Perry and give him a small moral boost.
In the novel ‘true history of the Kelly gang’ Carey creates sympathy towards Ned through the use of metaphors “may I burn in hell if I speak false” he does this to give a different view of Ned Kelly to that of a cold blooded cop killer. In contrast to Barbara’s letter, Carey created the novel, telling a story as if Ned was narrating it through a letter towards his daughter. “My dearest daughter” the adjective ‘dearest’ again gives us father like imagery, creating sympathy for Ned.
Ned Kelly in 19th centaury Australia was seen as an outlaw and a cold blooded murderer. Carey introduces the idea of a daughter to portray Ned as a fatherly like figure, almost a saint, standing up for the harsh injustice of the Irish settlers in Australia. He explains to his daughter the reasons behind his acts. Ned never had a daughter, which suggests Carey is highly trying to sympathise with Ned. In capotes ‘In cold Blood’ Barbara’s letter to Perry is very emotional for him; it goes into detail about his upbringing and states that Perry cannot blame his upbringing for the murders. She describes him as a wild animal and urges him to change his ways. Whilst Carey uses the letter to create sympathy for Ned, capote includes it, not to sympathise but to almost tell of. It highlights Perry’s relationship with his family and to give us an understanding on the background Perry is from.