Episode 5 of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans gives us a glimpse of a troubled Truman Capote (played by Tom Hollander). After betraying the Swans, he speaks to a friend, James Baldwin (played by Chris Chalk). In the FX series, the character ate a swan. Was this a metaphor or did Truman Capote really eat a swan?
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for Feud: Capote vs. The Swans episode 5, so proceed with caution.
Did Truman Capote Really Eat a Swan? Episode 5 Explained
In the fifth episode of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Capote met up with a fellow writer, James Baldwin, at La Côte to lift his spirits.
After all, he had just published the exposé that earned him the disapproval of the Swans and their husbands.
In the episode, Baldwin tells Capote:
"Your book, it is the firing squad that killed the Romanovs. It’s your guillotine that beheaded Marie Antoinette."
During their meeting, Capote had felt writer's block as a result of the negative turnout of his piece. But after meeting up with Baldwin, his spirits had been lifted. And soon, he had a sudden urge to write again.
Before the episode ends, Capote celebrates this occasion by hiring a private chef for a meal at his home.
To prepare the special meal, the chef is seen stalking through Central Park in the middle of the night. He captures a swan and snaps its neck.
Capote then enjoys his meal with a revived glee as he is determined to finish his book and go after the Swans he used to love.
Can You Eat a Swan in NYC?
There are mute swans in Central Park. They are even considered the largest birds in the state of New York.
While some US states allow the hunting of swans, it is illegal in New York City. In fact, in 2023, three teenagers were arrested and accused of stealing a swan that locals loved.
The teenagers were suspected of stealing the swan and her four cygnets before killing and eating the said swan. The teens told the police that they were hunting ducks.
The teenagers were given felony charges of grand larceny and criminal mischief and misdemeanor charges of conspiracy and criminal trespassing.
The four cygnets were found safe.
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Is It Illegal to Eat a Swan?
Here's an interesting bit of trivia, as shared by Baldwin himself. The act of owning and eating a swan is associated with royalty.
Architectural Digest shared that in 1247, King Henry III feasted on 40 swans for Christmas dinner. It soon became a tradition in the 1500s, as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I enjoyed eating these birds.
Queen Elizabeth I eventually became the owner of all wild swans in England's open waters.
She also started "Swan Upping", a tradition where the local swan population along the River Thames would be counted. This became a conservation measure so that swans could be protected.
Interestingly, the queen is the only person in the UK who is legally allowed to eat a swan. Kelly Lynch, a royal expert, said that she has not "seen no evidence of the royals dining on swans."
So, to answer the question of whether Truman Capote really ate a swan, it's likely a metaphorical scene entirely created for the FX series.
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