The American Dream is the idea of ​​creating a more prosperous and joyful life, where there is equal opportunity for success. However, the promises of these dreams they can grow people's resentment towards others, creating an American nightmare. Truman Capote's In Cold Blood reveals the darkness of these nightmares through the murder of a wholesome family, the Clutter Murderers, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith , they try to get their version of the American dream by stealing from the Clutters, ultimately leading to the deaths of the families. The American dream is distorted through the truths told. Even if success can be achieved, success is not always eternal essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Clutter family is shown to have achieved the American dream and has a quintessential American family and lifestyle. Not only was Mr. Clutter's farm prosperous, but he was also well respected within his community due to his determination and perseverance. Mr. Clutter "worked eighteen hours a day...but after a decade [his] domain consisted of over eight hundred acres of freehold" (11). In addition to his success, his children were also very accomplished; Eveanna was studying to be a nurse, Beverly was engaged to a young biologist, Nancy was the city darling, and Kenyon was the charming young boy. However, all their successes are thrown away on the single night they are murdered by Dick and Perry. Their murder created fear throughout the town of Holcomb because the Clutters were idolized and placed on a pedestal. As one school teacher said to Detective Dewey, “Whoever is least admired. Prosper. Safe. But that family represented everything that people around here really value and respect, and that such a thing could happen to them” (88). Although they achieved the American dream, their deaths showed the Holcomb community that success is difficult to sustain. The greed and jealousy of those who have failed to achieve success create an American nightmare. Dick and Perry came from backgrounds exemplary of the typical American Dream narrative. Dick grew up in a stable, middle-class lifestyle, wanting more and feeling like anything less was beneath him. After being involved in a car accident, Dick's behavior began to change rapidly. His father said: “After that, he wasn't the same boy anymore. Gambling, writing bad checks. I never knew him before he did those things" (166). Perry's childhood, unlike Dick, was extremely traumatizing as he spent many years in abusive orphanages and foster homes. As he recalls, “it wasn't long time that [his] mother put [him] in a Catholic orphanage. The one where the black widows were always against [him]. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay. However, the two end up in prison where a certain Floyd Wells told them about the Clutters: how rich, generous and, above all, successful they were. Floyd recalls: “Dick was talking about killing Mr. Clutter. He said he and Perry were going to go out there and rob the place, and kill all the witnesses: the Clutters” (161). Driven by hatred and jealousy, Dick had decided to rob and kill the Clutter family. That's because the Clutters represented everything Dick and Perry wanted from their lives: wealth and prosperity. Throughout the novel, the American dream is invalidated by the demolished fate of the death of the..