Isolation
Capote’s protagonists are often alone and isolated, making them easy targets for various dangers. For example, Capote begins “Miriam” by telling us that Mrs. Miller is a widow, who barely speaks to anybody. As such, this makes it easier for Miriam to manipulate her.
Don’t trust strangers
Many of Capote’s short stories are about people who meet ominous strangers who have terrifying consequences on their lives. For example, in “Miriam,” Mrs. Miller meets a mysterious young girl called Miriam, who rudely decides she would like to live with the widow. In “A Tree of Night,” a young student called Kay meets a strange couple on a train and begins to feel like she is trapped in a nightmare.
The supernatural
The supernatural or the suggestion of the supernatural is a key theme in many of Capote’s stories. Often, Capote leaves it up to his reader whether or not his characters have been influenced by the supernatural, which often makes his stories scarier. For example, at the end of Miriam, we are unsure whether Miriam is supernatural or not.
