José is a Brazilian politician who originally shows up at Holly’s apartment because he’s dating Mag Wildwood. A man dedicated to his profession, José frequently travels in and out of New York City, often returning to Brazil or making trips to Washington, D.C. When the narrator learns that Rusty Trawler is about to get married to yet another woman, he rushes over to Holly’s apartment, assuming that she’s Rusty’s bride-to-be. However, José greets him when he arrives and explains that Rusty is marrying Mag Wildwood, not Holly. Apparently, Holly and José are happy about this, since it leaves them free to continue their relationship, which was previously unfolding in secret. In the ensuing weeks, José and Holly make plans to get married and move to Brazil. Holly also becomes pregnant, though she loses the baby after a rough day of riding horses in the park with the narrator. Worse, José abandons Holly after she’s arrested, writing a letter explaining that he can’t jeopardize his political career by continuing their relationship.
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José Ybarra-Jaegar Character Timeline in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
The timeline below shows where the character José Ybarra-Jaegar appears in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
...the weekend, Mag stays with Holly, piquing the narrator’s interest—especially when a Brazilian man named José Ybarra-Jaeger accidentally comes to his door instead of Holly’s. José is looking for Mag and...
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On the same day that José first appears, he returns in the afternoon with multiple suitcases, and the narrator wonders what’s...
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Mag complains that José is Brazilian, saying she finds it hard to wrap her head around the idea of...
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...keeps such unconventional hours. While the narrator sleeps, Holly goes out with Rusty, Mag, and José, and the narrator wonders why José spends so much time with this group, ultimately deciding...
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...right after Holly returns from a trip she took in February with Rusty, Mag, and José. While the narrator rubs oil on her back, Holly tells him about the trip, explaining...
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...trying to kill Holly. Upstairs, he tries and fails to enter her apartment, but then José appears and opens the door with his own key. Accompanying José is a doctor, who...
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...the coming months, Holly stays inside and isn’t as social as normal. During this period, José moves in with her, and she hardly leaves the apartment except for her weekly visits...
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Frustrated, the narrator asks Holly if José knows that she’s already married. Snapping at the narrator, Holly tells him to stop trying...
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...her apartment to feed her cat, slipping in through the window. Once inside, he finds José’s cousin, who has also come in through the window. The cousin is packing a suitcase...
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With great regret, the narrator gives José’s letter to Holly. In the letter, José informs her that, though he loves her and...
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...country, saying that she’ll use her ticket to Brazil even though she’s no longer with José. After all, the ticket is already paid for, and she’s never been to Brazil. Beside...
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