House of Flowers by Truman Capote is a poignant story of romance, mystery and despair, dealing with the highs and lows dealt in our complicated lives. Here, Ottilie is attracted by a beautiful young man, and leaves her old (past) life and friends to live with him and his old grandmother, who seems to hate her. If you like to read Romance Novel you can checkout our latest Play Along by Liz Tomforde.
House of Flowers – Truman Capote
About the Author:
Truman Capote was an American born author famously known for his literary classics. His works includes non-fiction, stories, novels, and plays. Few of his notable classics are, the novella “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the famous “In Cold Blood”.
House of Flowers Musical by Truman Capote Summary
In the vibrant setting of a Haitian house of ill repute (bordello) commonly known as Champs Elysees, Ottilie the protagonist is introduced, the most popular “working girl” (prostitute) at the brothel. She’s not only beautiful but also a customer favorite. The proprietress showers her with luxuries: the best room, an electric light-bulb, and silks.
Ottilie laughs and gossips with her friends Baby and Rosita, and the bordello becomes her home. Yet, beneath the surface, Ottilie yearns for something more love and meaning to her life. She questions her friends about its nature, seeking answers that elude her. A voodoo priest acc. to rituals advises her to catch a wild bee but condition was if it doesn’t sting, she’ll know she’s found love. In once such case unfortunately, the bee stings her when she tries this with Mr. Jamison, leaving her still searching.
Everything comes to a drastic change when Ottilie meets Royal Bonaparte (a fellow mountain dweller) at a carnival cockfight and she’s drawn to his beauty. When the bee doesn’t sting, Ottilie knows she’s found love.
Royal takes her to his “House of flowers,” a seemingly ideal like heaven adorned with flowers (like wisteria and lilies) surrounding it. Determined to leave past self and life behind, Ottilie moves in with him and his grandmother. But their married life isn’t as pretty and peaceful as she has thought. Royal reverts to old habits, and his grandmother, Old Bonaparte, torments Ottilie with spells and eerie objects. It becomes a battle of desires, and Ottilie tends to fights back with idea of straightforward revenge.
However, the grandmother harbors animosity toward Ottilie, creating tension in their new household. As the story unfolds, themes of love, mystery, and the complexities of human relationships come to the forefront and Ottilie’s journey takes unexpected turn.
When Baby and Rosita come to save her and take out her from that situation, Ottilie faces a decision crisis, she got confused to choose from security and friendship within the bordello or a love that has made her into something else. Her poignant and rebellious decision reveals the complexities of desire, clashes with tradition and the pursuit of happiness is alluring and perilous.
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Characters:
- Ottilie:
- Ottilie is the central character and protagonist, a young woman working at the bordello, she is beautiful and in search of true love and meaning
- Royal Bonaparte:
- Royal is another mountain dweller whom Ottilie meets during a carnival in which cockfight was taking place. His attractive features do the magic at Ottilie, and she identify him as love.
- Old Bonaparte:
- Royal’s grandmother, Old Bonaparte, plays a crucial role, she remain against Ottilie. The interactions between two ladies add tension and make the story interesting.
- Baby and Rosita:
- Ottilie’s friends at the bordello, Baby and Rosita, provide support and friendship during the hard time and helps her in making one of the toughest decision.
House of Flowers by Truman Capote Review
Truman Capote’s work continues to resonate with readers, providing them with inclusion in the story. The try to explore the complexities of the human heart and the pursuit of happiness in unconventional places seems successful as readers can feel the emotion, pain, clash and confusion. He has beautifully presented small details with great efforts as he masterfully describes her emotions—”the tentative smiles, the fluttering uncertainty”. On the other hand few of the people also find the ending to this story unappealing based on the storyline portrayed so far.
House of Flowers Musical Adaptation
Meanwhile, the musical adaptation of this short story named “House of Flowers” brings this poignant tale to the stage. Set against the backdrop of the same brothel, the musical revolves around Madame Fleur, an evil brothel owner.
Fearing that Ottilie, her star performer, will leave the brothel after falling in love, Madame Fleur makes a plan to murder Ottilie’s fiancé, Royal. The story starts to unfold with suspense, drama, and a number of characters who struggles with their desires, secrets, and the after decision choices.
Is House of Flowers part of Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
A short story of the name “House of Flowers” was published in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, its a novella.
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