The story of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is well known: Holly, a young glamour girl, tries to find her way in New York City, relying on the favor of male benefactors who give her “powder-room change”, while at the same time she keeps chasing her dream of marrying a rich millionaire. Paul Varjak, a young writer, falls in love with her and tries to convince her to settle down with him. The movie has become a crucial cultural reference. But before the film, there was a source text: a novella by the same title, written by Truman Capote and published in 1958. The film adaption was made only three years later, by director Blake Edwards, scriptwriter George Axelrod and the producers Martin Jurow and Richard Shepherd.
Those who have read Capote’s novella and have seen the film usually complain about huge difference between the two – and they undoubtedly have a point. However, adaptation studies have far too long concentrated on the issue of fidelity alone, implying that a story could just be projected on the screen without having to undergo change. But film and literature are two very different mediums and thus, in the process of an adaptation, transformation must occur. There is no need for proving that book and film are different – this has been discussed many times before and can be read in a great number of critical reviews. But there is much more to adaptation studies than a simple fidelity analysis. What I intend to do is to find out why book and film differ crucially in many points in order to prove that in spite of sharing (at least in big part) the same characters, the same setting, important parts of the story, key motifs and even often the same dialogues, the novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the film based on it actually tell very different stories with very different, even contradictory underlying messages and thus with a very different reception and impact.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. A Look at the Source Text: Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's
- 3. A Look at the Adaptation Process: from Book to Film
- 3.1. The Rocky Road to Adaptation
- 3.2. The Issue of Sexuality
- 4. A Look at How the Story is Told in Book and Film
- 4.1. The Plot
- 4.2. The Characters
- 4.2.1. Holly Golightly
- 4.2.2. The Narrator/Paul Varjak
- 4.3. The Atmosphere
- 4.4. Key Issues and Motifs
- 4.4.1 The Conflict Between Security and Freedom
- 4.4.2. The Quest for Identity: in Search of a Name
- 4.4.3. Diversity of Love
- 5. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This study aims to analyze the significant differences between Truman Capote's novella "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and its 1961 film adaptation, moving beyond a simple comparison of fidelity. The analysis will explore the reasons behind these crucial changes and investigate how the different mediums (literature and film) achieve distinct narrative impacts. The study will examine how the adaptations shape the story's underlying messages and their reception.
- The adaptation process and its inherent transformations.
- Contrasting narrative techniques in the novella and film.
- The portrayal of characters, particularly Holly Golightly, and their evolution across mediums.
- Exploration of key themes like identity, freedom versus security, and diverse forms of love.
- The impact of societal pressures and censorship on the adaptation.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by establishing the iconic image of Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly and highlighting the significant discrepancies between Capote's novella and its film adaptation. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the adaptation process as a transformative act rather than a mere transposition of text to screen, acknowledging the inherent differences between literary and cinematic storytelling. The chapter introduces the core objective: to analyze why and how the novella and film diverge in their narratives, themes, and overall impact despite sharing common elements.
2. A Look at the Source Text: Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's: This chapter delves into the reception and controversy surrounding Capote's novella upon its publication in 1958. It explores the initial reactions, both positive and negative, focusing on aspects like Holly's profession and the open portrayal of sexuality and frank language that caused a stir. The chapter discusses the novella's immediate fame and the debate surrounding the inspiration for Holly Golightly, highlighting Capote's own comments about her representing a particular type of young woman in New York. Crucially, it highlights Capote's identification with the narrator, which sheds light on the narrator's characteristics, particularly his ambiguous sexuality, a key difference from the film's portrayal.
Keywords
Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's, film adaptation, literary analysis, character analysis, Holly Golightly, narrative techniques, sexuality, identity, freedom, security, love, adaptation studies, cultural impact, censorship, literary versus cinematic storytelling.
Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Comparative Study - FAQ
What is the purpose of this study?
This study analyzes the significant differences between Truman Capote's novella "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and its 1961 film adaptation. It goes beyond a simple comparison of fidelity, exploring the reasons for crucial changes and investigating how the different mediums (literature and film) achieve distinct narrative impacts. The study examines how adaptations shape the story's underlying messages and their reception.
What are the key themes explored in the study?
The study explores several key themes present in both the novella and the film adaptation, including the adaptation process and its inherent transformations; contrasting narrative techniques; the portrayal of characters, particularly Holly Golightly, and their evolution across mediums; key themes like identity, freedom versus security, and diverse forms of love; and the impact of societal pressures and censorship on the adaptation.
What aspects of the novella and film are compared?
The comparison encompasses various aspects of the narrative, including the plot, characters (especially Holly Golightly and the narrator/Paul Varjak), atmosphere, and key issues and motifs such as the conflict between security and freedom, the quest for identity, and diverse forms of love. The study also analyzes the narrative techniques employed in both the book and the film.
How does the study approach the analysis of the adaptation?
The study views the adaptation process as a transformative act, not merely a transposition of text to screen. It acknowledges the inherent differences between literary and cinematic storytelling and focuses on understanding why and how the novella and film diverge in their narratives, themes, and overall impact, despite sharing common elements.
What is the significance of the character Holly Golightly?
Holly Golightly is a central figure in the study. The analysis examines how her portrayal differs between the novella and the film, considering her evolution across mediums and the impact of these changes on the overall narrative and thematic resonance. The study also explores the debate surrounding the inspiration for her character and Capote's own comments on her representing a particular type of young woman in New York.
What are some of the key differences highlighted between the novella and the film?
Key differences highlighted include the portrayal of Holly Golightly, the narrative voice and the character of the narrator, the handling of sexuality and frank language, the overall atmosphere, and the emphasis on certain themes. The study explores how societal pressures and censorship influenced the changes made in the film adaptation.
What is covered in each chapter of the study?
The study includes an introduction setting the stage and outlining its objectives; a chapter dedicated to the source text, including its initial reception and controversies; a chapter on the adaptation process and its challenges; a chapter comparing the narrative techniques, plot, characters, atmosphere, and key themes in the novella and film; and a concluding chapter summarizing the findings.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Keywords include: Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's, film adaptation, literary analysis, character analysis, Holly Golightly, narrative techniques, sexuality, identity, freedom, security, love, adaptation studies, cultural impact, censorship, literary versus cinematic storytelling.
- Quote paper
- B.A. Damaris Englert (Author), 2013, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. The Message of Truman Capote’s Novella Compared to the Film Adaptation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/263601
