Being on the Outside

One of the major themes throughout most of Capote's work is alienation in the family and from society. Many of Capote's characters have been orphaned or have other vulnerabilities that make them different from mainstream society. This theme of being on the outside mirrors Capote's own life and especially his childhood where he is sent to live with an aunt at a young age displacing the traditional feelings and emotions inherent in a typical nuclear family. Capote's homosexuality, especially during the time he was growing up in the 1940's and 1950's, was a social taboo further alienating the emotionally vulnerable Capote. In the Grass Harp, all the important characters in the book have been ostracized by society or are on the outside by circumstances both within and beyond their control. Verena separates herself by her brusque manner. Dolly retires within her protective shell of picking...