The House of Mirth: Book I I-II

Portrayal of Miss Lily Bart

In Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, the reader is immediately introduced to a complex character in Miss Lily Bart. Confident and well-born, she was also blessed with incredible beauty. As a New York women living in the early 20th century, Lily's future has one certainty, marriage. Marriage is a source of internal conflict for Lily.  She seems reluctant to give up her freedom, stating to Mr. Seldon "what a miserable thing it is to be a woman," because of marriage expectations (Wharton, 4). However, Lily barely considers the alternative to marriage, living as a single, impoverished woman like Gerty Farish. This is due to her lack of money and love for the finer things in life. Lily's ideal resolution would be to continue living the way she is, independent and as extravegant as possible with her limited means. However, at the age of twenty-nine, she is feeling the pressure to settle down. Within her conversation about marriage and the future with Mr. Sheldon, Lily appears to have resolved her internal conflict. In order to live in the manner in which she's accustom, she must find a rich husbend.