Themes of Identity Loss in Truman Capote

Loss of identity can be both a fascinating and very painful trait for a person to possess. Throughout his work, Truman Capote consistently   employs characters who are far from self actualization. This can be seen through his use of descriptive imagery which often illustrates the different ways that someone far from self actualization can be perceived by both themselves and others.
Breakfast at Tiffany's   is the story of a young writer, Paul Varjak's encounter and eventual love affair with his enchantingly eccentric neighbor Holly Golightly. Those who don't know Holly all that well receive the impression that she is not much more than the beautiful, carefree facade she puts forth. With a closer look, Paul finds that she is not who she seems to be. Holly has always struggled to find her identity and plays whatever character suits her fancy.
Other Voices, Other Rooms is about Joel Knox, a twelve year old boy who, after the death of his mother receives an invitation to live with his absentee father on Skully's Landing.   Not only is the landing itself isolated, but so is Joel.   Due to his dainty femininity he has always been alienated by his peers. Joel's feelings of isolation combined with a lack of knowledge about his living family create a lot of identity problems for Joel during his formative years.
Holly Golightly, while not the narrator of Breakfast at Tiffany's remains the main focus of the novel.   When describing her through the eyes of others using imagery to minutely describe his physical appearance Truman Capote often draws upon her beauty and her seemingly magnetic aura that draws people in "The ragbag color of her boy's hair, tawny streaks, strands of albino-blonde and yellow caught the hall light" (13). illustrates how she often catches the light and portrays her as a shining beacon of sorts. The many colors in her hair can also be viewed as symbolism for Holly's many personalities, all characters that she puts on for people to see. Other times,...