The Narrator’s Conflict with Holly

Breakfast at Tiffany's

The narrator’s admiration is repeatedly unsettled by Holly’s disregard for his work and his tendency to judge her, until concern draws them back together.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Story Misread The Story Misread from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Literary Disappointment The Narrator Reads He shares a story he has just completed, hoping that Holly will understand its emotional design.

The Story Misread from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Literary Disappointment The Narrator Reads He shares a story he has just completed, hoping that Holly will understand its emotional design.

A Literary Disappointment The Narrator Reads He shares a story he has just completed, hoping that Holly will understand its emotional design. Her attention wanders while he reads. A Misunderstanding Holly interprets the story as a tale about lesbians and says it bores her. The narrator feels exposed and privately decides she is shallow.

Holly’s Offer to Help Holly’s Offer to Help from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Reversal of Roles The Agent’s Arrival O. J. Berman assesses the narrator and questions his prospects.

Holly’s Offer to Help from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A Reversal of Roles The Agent’s Arrival O. J. Berman assesses the narrator and questions his prospects.

A Reversal of Roles The Agent’s Arrival O. J. Berman assesses the narrator and questions his prospects. Holly interrupts to insist that the narrator is a genius and that Berman should help him. Friendship Through Advocacy The narrator does not want the opportunity in the way Holly imagines, but her enthusiasm matters. Their difference in taste does not prevent her from championing him.

The Manuscript Dispute The Manuscript Dispute from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Judgment Turns Sharp A Publicly Shared Story Holly gives the narrator’s published story to Berman, who criticizes its subject matter.

The Manuscript Dispute from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Judgment Turns Sharp A Publicly Shared Story Holly gives the narrator’s published story to Berman, who criticizes its subject matter.

Judgment Turns Sharp A Publicly Shared Story Holly gives the narrator’s published story to Berman, who criticizes its subject matter. She agrees that the work does not mean much to her. Anger Becomes Personal The narrator’s hand nearly strikes Holly as she dismisses his art. His reaction reveals how much her opinion matters beneath his claims of independence.

The Birdcage at the Door The Birdcage at the Door from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". An Attempted Severing Returning the Gift The narrator carries the birdcage downstairs and leaves it outside Holly’s door.

The Birdcage at the Door from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". An Attempted Severing Returning the Gift The narrator carries the birdcage downstairs and leaves it outside Holly’s door.

An Attempted Severing Returning the Gift The narrator carries the birdcage downstairs and leaves it outside Holly’s door. He wants the symbolic return to end their connection. A Private Retreat When he finds it on the sidewalk, he rescues it. The action undermines his resolve and shows that anger has not erased affection.

Concern Replaces Resentment Concern Replaces Resentment from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". The Feud Pauses A Warning to Holly The narrator notices Doc watching Holly’s building and initially suspects danger.

Concern Replaces Resentment from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". The Feud Pauses A Warning to Holly The narrator notices Doc watching Holly’s building and initially suspects danger.

The Feud Pauses A Warning to Holly The narrator notices Doc watching Holly’s building and initially suspects danger. Despite their estrangement, he decides to warn her. A Family Reunion He discovers that Doc is Holly’s husband from Texas and facilitates their meeting. Concern for her has outlasted the argument about his writing.

On Holly’s first night in the narrator’s room

At Holly’s first gathering with O. J. Berman

In February, after Holly returns from her trip

The morning after their argument

Late spring, when Doc appears in New York