My interest in the question if Holly Golightly is an icon for modern women and why comes from my enthusiasm for the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, which I like especially because of the main character Holly and my passion for New York City. Having already seen the film, I remarked several differences while reading the book and since then I wanted to discover their significances; so when I had to choose a topic for my research paper, the comparison of the Holly in the novella and the Audrey-Hepburn-version of her was one of the topics that I gave most preference to.
In order to do that, I will first look at the author’s life and summarize the storylines of novel and film adaptation so that one can find the content-related differences early in the examination. The second part will contain a characterization of Holly in the novel, followed by a comparison to the Holly in the film. The third part of this paper will explain the differences and conclusively try to find the influences that Holly Golightly has on modern women.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Information on the author
1.2 Summary of the novel
1.3 Summary of the film
2 Analysis
2.1 Characterization of Holly in the novel
2.1.1 Holly’s outward appearance
2.1.2 Holly’s choice of words
2.1.3 Holly’s relationships to other people
2.1.4 Holly’s character traits
2.1.5 Conclusion
2.2 Comparison to Audrey Hepburn's representation of Holly in the film
2.2.1 Holly’s outward appearance
2.2.2 Holly’s choice of words
2.2.3 Holly’s relationships to other people
2.2.4 Conclusion
3 Significance of the differences – Did the alterations of Holly Golightly’s character in the film adaptation influence the innovation of the perception of women?
Objectives and Themes
The research paper aims to analyze whether Holly Golightly functions as an icon for modern women by comparing her character portrayal in Truman Capote’s original novella "Breakfast at Tiffany’s" with the interpretation provided by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film adaptation, examining how specific narrative and character alterations influence the perception of women.
- Comparative analysis of character development in literature vs. film
- The role of outward appearance as a social facade and identity marker
- Relationships and their impact on female independence
- The influence of the "American Dream" on the depiction of social mobility
- The cultural shift in the perception of "independent women" during the 1960s
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 Holly’s outward appearance
As one can find out a lot about a person looking at his or her outward appearance, this will now be analyzed in detail.
Holly Golightly uses her exterior to build up a facade and cover her true identity. Her hair is died in “ragbag colors […], strands of albino-blond and yellow” (p.12, l.19f.) and her eyes are always “blotted out by a pair of dark glasses” (cf. p.12, l.27) when she is in public, along with fresh looking make-up. This and her classic style, like a “slim cool black dress”(p.12, l.22), make it impossible to guess her real age, when the narrator first sees her, i.e., he thinks “her anywhere between sixteen and thirty” (p.12, l.29f.). Furthermore, this look symbolizes her freedom, as it is “an art work of her own creation”. Holly chose it herself and people seem to appreciate it, which gives her strength and self-assurance.
The impersonality of her looks goes along with the significance of her full name Holiday Golightly. She changed her actual name Lulamae (probably inspired by Capote’s mother who’s name was Lillie Mae) when she ran away from home and left her husband, brother and old life behind. The new first name ‘Holiday’ shows that she tries to live her life easy going or, in combination with her real last name since her wedding, to ‘go’ ‘lightly’ through it. But the name also exhibits her insecurity and the fear of bonding to a place or person. She has not found her home yet, which one can also see looking at her mailbox which reads “Miss Holiday Golightly, Traveling” (p.11, l.17). The lack of a place to call home is also a similarity to Capote’s own experience, as he moved a lot when he was a child, his mother looking for a qualified man to be the head of their little family, just like Holly.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides background on the author Truman Capote and summaries of both the novel and the film to set the stage for the comparative analysis.
2 Analysis: Conducts a detailed character study of Holly Golightly in the novella and compares her to Audrey Hepburn’s film portrayal, focusing on appearance, speech, and relationships.
3 Significance of the differences – Did the alterations of Holly Golightly’s character in the film adaptation influence the innovation of the perception of women?: Discusses how the changes made for the film adaptation contributed to Holly becoming an enduring cultural icon and influenced the female self-perception in the 1960s.
Keywords
Holly Golightly, Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn, Character Analysis, Film Adaptation, Gender Roles, American Dream, Independence, Iconography, 1960s, Literary Comparison, Socialite, Masquerade, Femininity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the character of Holly Golightly in both Truman Capote’s novella "Breakfast at Tiffany’s" and the 1961 film adaptation to determine how she serves as an icon for women.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the construction of personal identity, the impact of social class, the evolution of the American Dream, and the representation of independent women in media.
What is the main objective of the comparative analysis?
The goal is to identify specific character alterations between the source material and the film and to explain how these changes affect the audience's perception of Holly.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The author uses a comparative literary and media analysis, focusing on text-based characterization in the novella and its adaptation into the cinematic visual language of the 1960s.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body breaks down Holly’s outward appearance, linguistic style, and interpersonal relationships, followed by a discussion on the social implications of her film persona.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
The work is characterized by terms such as Holly Golightly, character analysis, gender roles, film adaptation, and cultural icon.
How does the author interpret the significance of the film's ending?
The author argues that the film's "happy ending" transforms Holly into a more relatable figure who finds comfort in love, which differs from the more ambiguous and solitary conclusion of the novella.
Why is the role of the cat, "Cat," analyzed in the paper?
The cat is treated as a symbolic mirror for Holly’s own search for a place to belong; its integration into the happy ending reinforces the film's message of security and belonging.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lea Ribbeck (Autor:in), 2012, Holly Golightly as an icon for young women?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/197133
