Truman Capote's masterpiece of American literature, Breakfast at Tiffany's, is a wonderful story of misguided love. The novel fully deserves a place in any literary compilation and deserves an epic place in a collection of women's literature, as it presents a snapshot of a very human woman from 1950s America. Holly is not a woman you might want to mentor, nor a woman you might aspire to become, primarily because her flaws are exposed for all to see. However, she undoubtedly represents a cultured woman of 1950s America, a modern debutante, carefree and aloof. Her character defines the societal changes that took place during the 1950s after World War II, when women gained an independence they had not shared with men before the war, and the period of growth that was inevitable when they learned to walk alone. , free and fiery; women have acquired their independence, but they have not yet acquired the ability to provide for their own needs: it is society's fault. The novel shows this change beautifully, from the point of view of a man who falls in love with one of these wild and fiery new creatures that he doesn't fully understand. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essay The narrator, or "Fred" as Holly calls him, is captivated by this curious and unique creature that resides in his apartment building. His first encounter, where she enters via the fire escape to avoid a man who bites her, seems to take him by surprise. She is brash, not seeming to want to climb into bed to snuggle, confident in her sexuality. This is a recurring theme throughout the novel. Women before World War II would have been very offended by this kind of behavior, but it seems to intrigue our narrator. As the story progresses, the narrator develops more than a passing interest in his neighbor, falling deeply in love with her, but always knowing that she won't have him. His story with Joe Bell in the bar is the most telling, as it does not seem to be directed at Joe Bell, but rather at "Fred", although he never seems to understand that it is aimed at him. Holly tells Joe "Never love a wild thing...you can't give your heart to a wild thing: the more you do it, the stronger it becomes." (Capote 209) “Fred” never understands the message, already blinded by his love for her. She further warns him that she will fly away if he tries to get too close, a promise she eventually keeps. Holly is a fiercely independent woman, which makes her attractive to every man she comes into contact with. Serious mischaracterizations of Holly are sometimes made, including accusing her of being a whore or prostitute. Certainly, his behavior will never earn him a medal. She uses almost everyone she comes in contact with, either for money or simply as a toy. However, she does not pressure these people to join her company. Rather, they want to be with her. His personality is magnetic throughout most of the novel. She's not a fantastic person, but she's certainly a wonderful representation of the type of woman you wanted to be around in the 1950s. She also didn't use these people out of pure hatred, but out of necessity. She had to survive her childhood as a runaway in one of the most difficult times in American history, obviously having no real formal education that would provide her with a, 1993.