Diction

__ Diction: __ By Victoria Hernandez, Sarah Snell, Danielle Blinn, Dylan Gaitan.

Capote's elegant and complex diction potrays his attitude towards the city and people of Holcomb. In Holcomb, descriptions of buildings and a "ramshackle mansion", conveys his view of an isolated, neglected town. The use of the word ramshackle, is an oxymoron due to common descriptions of mansions being beautiful and elegant. This word choice shows the degredation of Holcomb, Kansas. He then becomes more specific, and describes the "sulfur- colored paint" on the buildings. His use of the word sulfur, instead of using a color such as yellow, clearly distinguishes the color of the building as old and portrays the stench the builiding seemingly has. Despite his descriptions of the barren town and buidings, the people are referred to as more sophisticated. Descriptions of the "postmistress" and "proprietress" show a level of elegance compared to their simple jobs and lives. Capote uses these words instead of using mailwoman or waitress to add an underlying meaning of sophistication to the town. His use of elegant words clearly shows how dull, but complex the town of Holcomb really is.