Golightly the Geisha
Stuff dating columnist and millennial singleton Sinead Corcoran looks to a classic romance movie for inspiration for her love life.
Before I had actually watched the movie of ,I
assumed that iconic photo of Audrey Hepburn standing outside Tiffany’s in New York City, dripping in diamonds, sipping coffee and eating a croissant was supposed to be a 1940s version of a snobby Ponsonby housewife milling about outside Lululemon with a green smoothie.
How wrong was I?
I’ve realised it was actually a
1940s version of a 19-year-old at
3am outside McDonalds after a night out on the razz – except obviously a far more glamorous version.
In that opening scene, Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly is on her way home from a date, which she was probably financially compensated for, whether that be through gifts or cash.
‘‘I suppose you think I’m very brazen. Everybody does. I don’t mind. It’s useful,’’ she says.
It got me thinking – is
the OG a sassy story of a modern, fun-loving, sexually liberated single gal in the Big Apple who refuses to succumb to societal gender norms of being a housewife?
Or is it the tragic tale of a vulnerable escort whose glamorous lifestyle and financial stability is entirely dependent on manipulating her sexuality for cash and other handouts from men?
In a 1969 interview with
magazine, Truman Capote, the author of the original novel, denied claims that the character of Holly Golightly was a prostitute, describing her instead as an ‘‘American Geisha’’.
‘‘Holly Golightly was not precisely a callgirl,’’ he said.
‘‘She had no job, but accompanied expense-account men to the best restaurants and nightclubs, with the understanding that her escort was obligated to give her some sort of gift, perhaps jewellery or a cheque . . .
‘‘If she felt like it, she might take her escort home for the night.’’
For decades, Golightly has been touted as an incredibly stylish, feminist icon. She partied all night, but always remained fresh-faced. She refused to settle down with a man and instead rinsed them for fun sex and cash. She was so chic and thin.
‘‘I will not accept drinks from gentlemen who disapprove of me. I’ll pay for my own whiskey and don’t you forget it!’’ she proclaims in the film, but later says she believes that ‘‘who a man thinks you are’’ is gauged by the earrings he gives you, demonstrating how desperately she sought to be valued under the male gaze.
In the film, Golightly shies away from romantic entanglements, unless her dates fork over ‘‘$50 for the powder room’’, meaning that she may not be an entirely liberated woman but she is at least in some sense in control of her relationships.
Aside from the obvious incredibly problematic racism in the film with the horrific Mr Yunioshi character, I personally believe still stands up in 2018.
Golightly is a complex female character who’s trying really hard to figure life out for herself, and making an absolute mess of it sometimes.
There is also something truly wonderful about watching a character who, despite looking aesthetically perfect at all times, is still emotionally and habitually flawed, just like the rest of us.
Who hasn’t chain-smoked out the window while listening to sad music on a UE Boom a la
you know?