Objects That Carry Holly’s Memory

Breakfast at Tiffany's

The birdcage and medal record two different forms of connection: a lasting gift from Holly and a small token she hopes to carry into an unknown future.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Window Display The Window Display from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Cage in a Shop The Object in the Window The narrator admires an elaborate birdcage in an antique shop but cannot afford its price.

The Window Display from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Cage in a Shop The Object in the Window The narrator admires an elaborate birdcage in an antique shop but cannot afford its price.

A Cage in a Shop The Object in the Window The narrator admires an elaborate birdcage in an antique shop but cannot afford its price. Its ornate beauty makes it a private object of desire. Freedom and Confinement Holly likes the cage’s fantasy but insists that it is still a cage. Her response introduces a tension between decorative beauty and the restriction of a living creature.

The Christmas Present The Christmas Present from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Holly Gives the Cage A Costly Surprise Holly buys the birdcage for the narrator, spending far more than he expected.

The Christmas Present from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Holly Gives the Cage A Costly Surprise Holly buys the birdcage for the narrator, spending far more than he expected.

Holly Gives the Cage A Costly Surprise Holly buys the birdcage for the narrator, spending far more than he expected. He realizes that she has turned a passing admiration into a generous gift. A Condition Attached She asks him never to put a living thing inside. Her request makes the gift a statement about freedom as well as affection.

The Medal from Tiffany’s The Medal from Tiffany’s from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Small Token The St. Christopher The narrator gives Holly a St. Christopher medal that came from Tiffany & Co.

The Medal from Tiffany’s from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Small Token The St. Christopher The narrator gives Holly a St. Christopher medal that came from Tiffany & Co.

A Small Token The St. Christopher The narrator gives Holly a St. Christopher medal that came from Tiffany & Co. It is modest beside the birdcage, but it carries his personal affection. A Portable Keepsake Holly accepts the medal even though she is not someone who reliably keeps possessions. Its later reappearance in her plans shows that the token matters to her.

The Friendship Break The Friendship Break from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Gifts in the Conflict Returning the Cage After their argument, the narrator leaves the birdcage at Holly’s door.

The Friendship Break from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Gifts in the Conflict Returning the Cage After their argument, the narrator leaves the birdcage at Holly’s door.

Gifts in the Conflict Returning the Cage After their argument, the narrator leaves the birdcage at Holly’s door. The gesture attempts to sever their friendship by returning its most meaningful object. An Unwanted Capitulation He finds the cage discarded outside and rescues it. Keeping it preserves the bond he claims to reject, even after the two stop speaking.

The Medal on Departure The Medal on Departure from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Token for the Journey A Request from Hospital Holly asks the narrator to search her apartment for the medal.

The Medal on Departure from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Token for the Journey A Request from Hospital Holly asks the narrator to search her apartment for the medal.

A Token for the Journey A Request from Hospital Holly asks the narrator to search her apartment for the medal. She wants it for the trip, linking the gift to the journey she is about to take alone. Memory Without Possession Unlike the birdcage, the medal is portable and personal. Her request suggests that she carries a trace of their friendship even while refusing to settle beside him.

During a hot summer night before the narrator’s first story is accepted

Christmas Eve in the brownstone

At Christmas, after the narrator presents Holly with his gift

In February, after the narrator challenges Holly’s choices

During Holly’s final preparations to leave New York