Breakfast at Tiffany's Section 3
Summary
The day after Holly's party the narrator discovers that Mag Wildwood is still at Holly's apartment. He gets a strange Latin visitor looking for Mag, then sees the man carrying suitcases to the house. Later, the narrator hears Holly and Mag talking about the war. Holly tells about her brother being a soldier and how he's stupid. Mag is a proud American who is engaged to a Brazilian named Jose. Jose is a politician who wants to become the president of Brazil. Mag wants him to give up politics and live in America.
When the narrator went down to check his mail, he noticed that the card on Holly's box was changed to: Miss Golightly and Miss Wildwood were now traveling together. In his box was a letter from a university review who wanted to publish his story. He showed Holly, who told him not to let them publish if they can't pay. Then, when she saw how excited he was about it, she decided to take him out to lunch and celebrate. As she was getting ready, the narrator noticed the packed suitcases and says that her room reminds him of a girl's gym. The whole time, Holly is talking about Mag and her engagement, then finally congratulates him on the story.
Notes
- Totter (47)- To move unsteadily with a rocking motion.
- “Bully for him” (48)- An idiom used when something is said that a person does not think the other person deserves praise or admiration for.
- Indian summer day (48)-a period of sunny, warm weather in autumn, not long before winter that persist for a few days or weeks.
- Brazil (49)- Brazil is a formal colony of Portugal, located in South America and is now the 5th largest country in the world.
- censoriously (49)- Tending to censure, harshly critical.
- Portuguese (49)- A Romance language spoken mainly in Portugal and Brazil.
- conventional (50)- Ordinary; not unusual or extreme.
- argyles (51)- Knitted or woven socks in diamond shaped patterns of various colors.
- Complacently (51)- In a self-satisfied manner.
- Sun helmets (51)-a light-weight hat that is worn in tropical countries that protects one from the sun.
- Misconstrued (52)- To misinterpret or mistake the meaning of something.
Commentary
Study Questions
1. How was Mag on the verge of pneumonia?
2. How does Holly describe her brother Fred?
3. Why was the narrator charmed by the Latin (Jose)?
4. Where is Jose from?
5. What did Holly have to say about the letter the narrator got from the university review regarding his story?
6. Why did Holly suggest to the narrator that he not let a small university publish his work?
7. Why did the narrator even tell Holly of the plans of the university to publish his story?
8. Why does Mag think that it is a useless thing to be President of Brazil?
9. How is Holly's room described?
10. Why did Holly keep everything packed and ready to go as if she were running from authorities?
11. Why did Holly accept Mag as a roommate?