At the start of In Cold Blood, Capote portrays each character with a great amount of detail so that the reader my feel sympathy towards the characters when they die. The reader is able to relate to each character as well as understand their role in the story. In the first fifteen pages Capote thoroughly describes Herbert William Clutter, the murdered father. Capote devotes nearly ten pages to help the reader understand and clearly picture Herb Clutter. The reader learns of Herb Clutters physical appearance as well as his place in society, his life aspirations, the jobs he fulfils throughout his life, the way he treats other men, the way he treats his children, his contributions to Holcomb, and many other intricate details. “…he was known for his equanimity, his charitableness, and the fact that he paid good wages and distributed frequent bonuses; the men who worked with him-and there were sometimes as many as eighteen- had small reason to complain” (10). With descriptions such as those, Capote humanizes the characters, making the reader feel as though they know them. This connection to the characters helps the reader feel emotions towards the characters when they are killed as well as understand the emotions of the townspeople as they watch the murders unfold.