The House of Mirth: My Thoughts

Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth was certainly an emotional rollar coaster. At the beginning, I rooted for Lily Bart in her endeavers, sure this novel's plot would form the same romance known in a Jane Austen story. However, nothing could have been further from the truth. This was not a story of a romance between Lily Bart and Lawrence Selden, but the romance between Lily and money.  Lily's greed consumed her and lead to her downfall. Although Lily was, at times, a sterotypical protagonist, she also seemed the antagonist. Most, if not all, Lily's problems were a result of her attitude or a previous decision. Several times she could have married men of means, but backed out or refused because she believed she had the luxary of better options. She seems to have a unrealistic view on life, and admits she "saw that there had never been a time when she had had any real relation to life" (Wharton, 259). I find it difficult to cheer on a character that causes most her problems and does little to solve them.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The House of Mirth, simply for its unique insight into the world of high society in the early 20th century. Wharton does not romantisize the tale, but tells it from a realistic and honest standpoint that any reader, myself included, must respect.

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I found the end of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth shocking. I'll admit I expected Selden to sweep in and save Lily from her poverty and to live happily ever after. Unfortunately, that is not the ending Wharton had in mind. An interesting aspect of the story, however, is how close it came to being a happy ending. Selden, realizing his love for Lily, rushed to her, but was too late. I think the possibility of a happy future is symbolized in Lily's meeting with Nettie Struther. Like Lily, Nettie was sick and struggling in her life. However, she was able to work her way out of poverty and create a happy marriage and life. Seeing Nettie should have shown Lily how, with hard work and determination, she could put her life back on track. At first it does, Lily admits "she felt stronger and happier: the little episode had done her good" (Wharton, 257). But instead of perservering, Lily continues to spiral into darkness. I believe it says much of Lily's character that, despite hearing Nettie's inspiring story, she was unable to picture a happy future herself. This seems a direct contrast to the passionate and determinate Lily I saw in Chapter I, and goes to show how far her character had fallen.

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Common hat for women in the early 1900s.

At this point in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth Lily has officially become a member of the lower class. She is forced to get a job and support herself. Lily's transition into the working class did not go smoothly. Although she does manage to find work sewing hats. This is a moment of irony, as before Selden expressed pride that Lily, an upper-class woman, trimmed her own hats beautifully. Now Lily is doing this, not for fashion, but to survive.

Lily's low-class life has one similarity to her old, social rejection. The working girls do not accept her, for she is a upper-class woman who fell from grace. Instead of being awed by her presence as she believes they should, they are merely annoyed at her lack of experience and training. She's not treated with pity or respect, but rather as "an object of criticism an amusement to the other work-woman" (Wharton, 231). Lily's life has come full circle, as two years before she would never considered the option of living in the working-class, and being rejected by them.

The House of Mirth Book II VII-VIII

These chapters in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth appear to be the major turning point for Lily. Up until now, Lily's largest concern has been how to secure her finances for the future or repay her debts. Now, however, she must be satisfied merely with survival. She is unable to marry into wealth, for Rosedale rejects her due to the drama regarding her and Mr. Dorset. She has no family, no marriage prospects, and looming debt. For the first time, Lily's worries are larger then simply lacking the lastest fashinonable dress. She is in serious danger of losing her apartment, and has few places she can go. No longer can she keep up the illusion that had been failing for months, that she belonged with the rich and powerful. Perhaps by birth or beauty she did, but that lifestyle came with a price Lily pays "by going to the best dress-makers, and having just the right dress for every occasion..." (Wharton, 216).  And she could no longer afford to pay.

However, Lily seeks out work for herself, which I consider a major turning point for her as a character. Throughout the novel Lily has sought out others to financial support her. Now, she will do it herself.

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Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

In this section of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, Lily experiences another major turning point. Luckily for her, this one is good. She is taken in by Carrie Fisher and exposed to new faces in high society, allowing her to begin rebuilding her damaged reputation. As a writer, Wharton has unique signatures given to those residing in upper-class society. One such signature is her chosen diction, or the dialect she uses for the upper-class, educated characters. High society has a vernacular just like other societies, and in Wharton's case it is French words. Although it is common for writers to occasionally place a term from another language in a novel, Wharton specifically places French terms, not in descriptions or narrations, but in the dialogue of the wealthy characters. For example, Carrie Fisher easily slips French into her sentences, saying "I've got carte blanche to bring my friends down there" (Wharton, 188).

Often Wharton's characters will use a French word, most likely to appear fancy, educated, and wordly. It's also a sign of the time period, as in the early 1900s Europe was looked to for trends in everything from food to fashion. It is not surprising then, that the wealthy would use French terms in an attempt to show off their status.

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In Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, Lily Bart's whirlwind life has taken a turn for the worse. She has been socially rejected, financially ruined, and suffered the loss of her aunt. Throughout all this, however, Lawrence Selden has remained a constant. He shows her unconditional support and concern. He even states "whatever her share in the situation - and he had always honestly tried to resist judging her by her surroundings -...she would be better out of the way of any possible crash" (Wharton, 172). Selden, unlike Lily's other friends, refuses to reject Lily for the poor situations she finds herself in. But Lily is not the victum of unfortunate circumstances, rather the cause. Her decisions, or indecisions, have directly lead to all the trouble she has gained. No matter what drama she causes or is a part of, Selden refuses to judge her, and instead lends his help. He advised her to leave the Dorset's yacht to protect her from gossip. Lily spends most her time begrudging having no one who she can truly rely on, not taking notice that Selden has always been there to support her, even when she does not deserve it.

The House of Mirth: Book II I-II

Modern-day Monte Carlo.

Although Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth is told mainly from Lily Bart's point of view, the author occasionally writes from the view of minor characters, specifically Lawrence Shelden. I think his is the most interesting perspective, as he lives in the same world as Lily, yet has such contrasting views on it. Lily stated in Book I she believed him as more of an outsider of high society, accepted by them but not bound by the rules. Having Selden's point of view during his trip to Monte Carlo gives the reader a chance to view his side of the story. Lily is certainly not an omnipotent narrator. On the contrary, she is extremely biased and often judgemental in her thoughts. Her narrowmindiness and obsession with wealth often trap the reader in her mindset. Selden's perspective not only gives the reader a break, but allows one to view what Lily cannot experience firsthand, gossip regarding her. Lily's actions are often motivated by current rumors or fear of new ones being spread. However, during Lily's point of view, it is nearly impossible to hear this gossip from the source. For example, during Selden's point of view the reader discovers Carrie Fisher believes Lily "works like a slave preparing the ground and sowing her seed; but the day she ought to be reaping the harvest she oversleeps herself or goes off on a picnic" (Wharton, 152). This is most likely a reference to Lily's inability to commit to a marriage, despite often ensnaring men such as Percy Gryce. A new point of view allows the reader a chance to delve into the mind and life of a new character.

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Toward the end of Book I in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, the point of view switches to a minor character, Miss Gerty Farish. Gerty appears polar opposite in Lily in terms of personality and appearence. However, the two share a few important similarities. Both suffer lonliness, and both are in love with Lawrence Selden. Although Lily has mentioned Gerty's upstanding character, it is shown to the reader when Gerty accepts Lily into her house and comforts her, despite feelings of amnosity toward her. It did not matter to Gerty that she was just left heartbroken and that Lily had indirectly (or possibly directly) caused it. Instead, Gerty pushed aside her hurt and rushed to help her friend. The same could not be said for Lily, who barely mentions Gerty in a positive light until she hits rock bottem and seeks Gerty out for solice. Lily also fails to notice her friend's suffering, as she is too caught up in her how drama. Despite all this, Gerty sacrafices her own happiness and encourages Lily to seek out Selden, stating that "She could not put him before herself in any light but the noblest" (Wharton, 136). Lily Bart may be the protagonist, but Gerty Farish is the real heroine.

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In this chapter of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, Lily's story takes a dramatic turn. Mr. Trenor's deciet and betrayal are a turning point in the story. No longer can Lily rely solely on her wit and charm to aquire money. In fact, doing so has backfired greatly. Trenor, feeling humiliated, lashes out and exposes rumors regarding Lily and Seldon. The fight leaves Lily emotional distraught with no idea who she can turn to, admitting she "had no heart to lean on" (Wharton, 121). Having no one she can trust brings out Lily's deep fear of being alone. The realization is the main turning point in Book I. So far, Lily has remained confident in her ability to talk or charm her way out of sticky situatioins. When that fails and she finds no one there to comfort her, she truly realizes how alone in life she is. Her rejection of those she feels are beneath her, like Selden or her cousin Grace, has driven them away. Her high-society friends reject her desperation for money and gossip about her alledged flings, created more conflict. Lily is responsible for her own solitude, and that realization is a personal turning point for her character.

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Lily Bart, the main character in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth has a very distict personality. She's charming, beautiful, slightly spoiled, and ambitious. She resembles many heroines in modern pop culture today. One of the most popular characters of the generation, Char Horowitz from the movie Clueless, has not only personality traits similar to Lily, but also life events. One major turning point for Char is the scene where she decides to use her wealth and popularity to help a local charity raise money. After recieving money from Gus Trenor's "tips", Lily too has money to do with what she pleases. When told about a friend's humanitarian work, she is compelled to help and donates her newly aquired money.  Much like Char, she gains pride and accoplishment out of helping others. However, unlike Char, Lily feels the her generosity makes up for her unneccesary spending, stating "she felt that her momentary burst of generosity had justified all previous extravagances, and excused any in which she might subsequently indulge" (Wharton, 91). This tells the reader Lily has yet to learn a lesson in regards to her overspending and gambling, although she has hit many rough patches. This signals it may take her hitting rock bottem to seize control of her expenses.

Char in the film Clueless.

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Up until this point in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, Lily Bart's decisions appeared level-headed and necessary to succeed in her goal of living a life of wealth and luxary. For example, her choice to persue Mr. Gryce due to his wealth would lead her to financial security. However, when Lily befriends Gus Trenor, she aquires through him an alternate means of earning money, investments. To the reader, it appear Lily has found the best solution, a way to earn the money she wants without marrying Mr. Gryce. She instead can afford to marry a poorer man such as Mr. Selden. She has fallen in love with Selden, but fears he is a "a privilage...likely to cost more than it was worth" (Wharton, 71). It does not even appear she would face social rebukes for courting Selden, as he resides in her social group. For these reasons, I am uncertain as to why Lily still strives to win back the favor of Percy Gryce. Her decision to leave Selden and search for Gryce at the wedding suggests she still believes Gryce a more suitable choice, despite barely tolerating him. However, I am confused by her choice. Why would she pass up a passionate marriage for a loveless union?

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By the sixth chapter of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, the write introduces several prominent minor characters. Percy Gryce, a dull and wealthy man, and Lawrence Selden, independent and poor, remain Lily's two marriage prospects. When choosing b

Lawrence Selden

etween the two men, Lily also chooses a lifestyle. Percy Gryce symbolizes the life Lily has always struggled to attain. His wealth and power would allow Lily a life of wealth. However, Lily begins to doubt the necessity of the wealth and privlige for which she had always longed. These doubts stem from multiple conversations with another minor character, Mr. Selden. In Lily's eyes, Selden's lack of money makes him an unsuitable husband. However, Selden represents a life Lily does not even realize she wants, full of spontanity and freedom. Selden and Lily have stimulating conversations, in which the subject often leads to to marriage or the unimportance of money. Selden states, " Isn't it natural that I should try to belittle all the things I can't offer you" (Wharton, 58). Whichever man Lily chooses will drastically alter her lifestyle and the course of her future.

The House of Mirth: Book I V

In Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, the setting has a major effect on the story itself. The novel sets in upper-class, New York society, in the midst of the early twentieth century. Unlike many modern novels, the time and place of the story is of dire importance. Setting affects everything about a story, from the actions of the characters, to the diction the author chooses. For example, Lily Bart, the antagonist, seeks to secure her spot in high society through a wealthy marriage. The simple fact that she believes the only way for her to live a life of financial security is through marriage reflects she is living in an society dominated by men. This could place her in any time or place before the mid-1900s. However, Lily's ability to choose her husbend, live fairly independently, and travel alone reflect the unique growing changes of society in the 20th century. The setting, however, is not important simply because of the time period. The place, New York's upper class, also effects the plot and characters. Lily often feels the need to bow to high social expectations and obligations, and praises Mr Sheldon on his ability to remain free from society, stating "...most of the captives were like flies in a bottle, and having once flown in, could never regain their freedom. It was Selden's distinction that he had never forgotten the way out" (Wharton, 43). Pressures to bend to society influences many of Lily's decisions. Therefore, the setting a paramount role in Wharton's story.

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By chapter four of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, the reader has been thoroughly introduced to the main character, Miss Lily Bart. Lily's thought center around her world of extravagance and luxary and her need to supplement her income by finding a rich husband. Her worries tend to focus around her gambling debts and how the upper class women percieve her. She plans to makes use of her unique beauty and intelligance to insnare a rich, if somewhat dull, husband in Mr. Gryce. This shallow and materialistic nature should make the reader despise the character for her personality flaws. However, Edith Wharton's character fails to invoke hatred or even annoyance from the reader. Instead, one feels almost pity for her plight and cheers her on. Wharton clearly writes an endearing character in Lily. The same can be said for Miss Bart's friends, whom at first appear to be spoiled and selfish creatures with little use. However, Lily seems to have found at least one true friend in Mrs. Trenor, whom, despite being a gossip, appears to truly care for Lily. Mrs. Trenor even agrees not to invite Lily in on the bridge games, stating "There's nothing I wouldn't do, you poor duck, to see you happy!" (Wharton, 36). Clearly, Wharton has a unique ability to make a character with the most annoying of characteristics, lovable.

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.