Wild Things and Breakfast at Tiffany’s

(A review of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1958)
by Truman Capote (1924-1984)
First written on )

Synopsis

In this seductive, wistful masterpiece, Truman Capote created a woman whose name has entered the American idiom and whose style is a part of the literary landscape. Holly Golightly knows that nothing bad can ever happen to you at Tiffany’s; her poignancy, wit, and naïveté continue to charm.

My views

“Anyway, home is where you feel at home. I’m still looking.” - Truman Capote

Ok, I no longer believe in ‘never Judge a book by its cover’. I read this one mainly because of it’s cover. Have you ever feared being trapped by love and similar demons? It is basically about that fear.

“You’ve got to be sensitive to appreciate her: a streak of the poet. But I’ll tell you the truth. You can beat your brains out for her, and she’ll hand you horseshit on a platter.” - Truman Capote

There are some people who, in their easy-going and wanting-to-include-everyone-in-their-joy ways become highly likable to sensitive souls, the sensitive folks find themselves emotionally invested in them only getting indifference in return. The indifference is not always because of malice. Sometimes, these people, just as Holly was, are as sensitive as others but have decided that they won’t let themselves caged down even by love.

“Never love a wild thing, Mr. Bell,” - Truman Capote

It is a kind of life that most people are often tempted to lead. We look at the birds flying in the sky and are envious of their so-called ‘freedom’:

“Don’t wanna sleep, don’t wanna die, just wanna go a-travelin’ through the pastures of the sky.”Truman Capote

Truman Capote

but:

“and believe me, dearest Doc — it’s better to look at the sky than live there. Such an empty place; so vague. Just a country where the thunder goes and things disappear.”Truman Capote

And so, Holly learned her lesson – freedom, as we wish to see it, is an illusion. The only real freedom we can have is the freedom to choose our own cage – and, what we need is to find a cage where we can feel at home. Unfortunately, it was too late.

Copyright – Sidharth Vardhan