Breakfast at Tiffany's

Holly has a traumatic past that she keeps hidden from people. In what ways does Holly meticulously craft an identity that deflects from her past? In what ways does she reveal flashes of her trauma during her time in New York City? When does she choose to do so, and why?

How are names and identity used to exert control in the novel?

Holly has an intuitive understanding of storytelling. How does this affect her relationship with the narrator?

Holly adores the cat because she sees so much of herself in it. How does her relationship with the cat develop over the course of the novel? Why does she let the cat go?

Many characters act out of self-interest in the novella, especially with regards to Holly. What roles do self-interest and transactional relationships play in the novel? How does Holly herself navigate these issues?

Doc Golightly is Holly's husband and one-time guardian. How does his relationship with Holly shape her current dynamics with men?

Holly purchases the ornate birdcage for the narrator but forbids him from using it for a living creature. What does this birdcage (and Holly's rule) symbolize? How does it relate to the novella’s wider themes?

In what ways does Holly's relationship with Jose offer her hope for the future? In what ways is this hope undermined?