The House of Mirth: Book 2, Chapters 13 and 14

After reading the closing chapters of The House of Mirth, authored by Edith Wharton, I cannot help but be upset with the ending she chose for the novel. Throughout the novel, Lily Bart’s selfishness, lack of respect, and superficiality incessantly irritated me, confused me, and angered me. However, her sudden changes brought upon by poverty and the working class in the last few chapters proved that she had changed into a better person. Although she was in a serious state of depression, it took hitting rock bottom for her to realize how trivial all of the things she used to care about truly were. Her true success and pride came from those she helped, including a Nettie Struther, who Lily had helped through an illness a while back. After seeing the healthy woman, joyous and vibrantly alive, and realizing that all of that cheerfulness was made possible because of her, Lily states “It will be my turn to think of you as happy – and the world will seem a less unjust place to me too,” (Wharton, 254). Furthermore, even with all of the troubles and hurt Bertha Dorset caused Lily, she never brought to the attention of anyone the blackmail letters she had on Bertha. I believe that Lily finally discovered that nothing good results from the destruction of others, even if Bertha did not, and she no longer wished to gain revenge or the satisfaction of Bertha’s downfall. Because of her situation, Lily actually began to care about others, yet this sudden change resulted in a lack of care for herself. She basically fell apart after looking back two years, the span of the novel, and realizing how terribly she squandered that time. This drastic change of personality is what distresses me so much about her death. A changed Lily in the world could have been an advantageous entity, yet it seems as though by this point, she might have been content with how she left her legacy.

The House of Mirth: Book 2, Chapters 11 and 12

After reading chapters eleven and twelve of The House of Mirth, written by Edith Wharton, I am saddened terribly by what has happened to Lily Bart, the main character. After months of living in poverty with no hope of return to wealthy New York society, it seems as though she has lost any will to live. She has begun using drugs to help herself sleep that were not prescribed to her, and it seems as though she is addicted to them. Her actions and comments at this point in the novel all exude a feeling of hopelessness, and it worries me about what might happen to her. Although I much prefer the humbleness and humility of Lily, now that she has been exposed to real life, I miss her happiness and sense of vitality. When she found a new respect for others, she unfortunately seemed to have lost any respect for herself, as she states that “life is difficult, and I am a very useless person,” (Wharton, 250). Unfortunately, there are many Lily Bart’s in the world today. So many people have been exposed to failure in life, whether they were laid off from work, broken up with, or many other possibilities, and this oftentimes causes them to lose any hope of ever digging themselves out of the ditch they have fallen in. Because of this, just as Lily does in The House of Mirth, they resort to alcohol, drugs, and smoking to deal away the pain. I believe the ever-present depression in certain areas in the world is a major factor in the widespread use of these dangerous and illegal substances. Furthermore, quite sadly, depression and a feeling of no out in sight can often lead to suicide or thoughts of suicide. Although many great accomplishments and attitudes have been constant throughout history, depression is also a terrible result of some lives that we humans cannot seem to shake.

The House of Mirth: Book 2, Chapters 9 and 10

After reading chapters nine and ten of Edith Wharton’s novel, The House of Mirth, I was touched to realize I had to alter that my previous perception of one of the book’s characters, Simon Rosedale. At the commencement of the novel, I quite honestly hated Rosedale because of his blackmailing of Lily Bart. It angered me that he would be that horrible, and as the book progressed, he did not seem to be changing. At one point, Rosedale even proposed to Lily simply because she would make a pretty wife in society, even bribing her with thoughts of new dresses and sparkling jewels. However, when Lily falls apart towards the end of the book, Rosedale surprised me with his realization that “the dark pencilling of fatigue under her eyes, the morbid blue pallour of the temples, brought out the brightness of her hair and lips, as though all her ebbing vitality were centered there,” (Wharton, 235).

I truly found it adorable that the time Rosedale found Lily most beautiful when she showed the telltale signs of exhaustion and having worked all day. I comprehended that at this point, he had changed from his ambitious past self. He was genuinely concerned for Lily’s well-being, and he actually was in love with her. It was sad to discover that Lily still was not looking for marriage, but Rosedale’s new personality made me happier to discover that if Lily were to decide to marry him, she would not be a trophy wife, rather she would be loved and cared for. Rosedale’s progression over time to a better person came as a surprise, yet it was a pleasant one at that and it redeemed his reputation with me, and even with, I personally believe, Miss Lily Bart.

The House of Mirth: Book 2, Chapters 7 and 8

In chapters seven and eight of Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth, a recurring theme throughout the novel is once again brought to the surface. This theme happens to be about freedom and slavery. Lily has always craved freedom ever since she was a young, even at one point envying the lifestyle of her dear friend Gerty Farish because she could do as she pleased, and arrange her furniture as she liked. However, Lily has always felt as though she is a slave or servant to the society she lives in. Throughout the book, Lily is manipulated, tossed around, and beaten into the ground by the hierarchy of the wealthy society, and cannot get away from the feeling of enslavement and submission. Furthermore, although she had wished to marry in order to avoid her money problems, she dreaded the increased sense of duty that would come with marriage, something which I believe involuntarily prevented her from getting married. Even as she considers an engagement to Simon Rosedale to get out of the poverty she has fallen into, she hesitates and stumbles when those words of servitude sneak their way back into her head, especially in her description of Rosedale as “florid and dominant,” (Wharton, 202). She realizes yet again that the dominant characteristic is holding her off, as she does not want to be dominated by anyone. She yearns for freedom, and unfortunately she knows it is possible “since her walk with Selden had represented and irresistible flight…” (Wharton, 205). That flight, the liberty she wants to feel, holds her back from any confinement. Even in the desperate situation her lack of money left her in, I believe it is in these chapters that Lily realizes her sense of freedom is not worth the jewels, glitz, and glam offered by a wealthy husband.

The House of Mirth: Book 2, Chapters 5 and 6

The Main Source of Lily Bart's Problems

Chapters five and six of book two of The House of Mirth, a novel written by Edith Wharton, expose the reader to what could be considered dramatic irony. After being dismissed from their European cruise by Bertha Dorset, Lily Bart returned to America. It is then that she discovers her longtime aunt and caretaker, Mrs. Peniston, had died. Lily selfishly was relieved, as her expected inheritance would now be able to cover her past debts. However, she stays around only to discover that Mrs. Peniston left her estate to Lily’s cousin, Grace Stepney. Because of this, Lily is once again struggling for money, but this time also has no one to take care of her. Although I expected this to happen, as the reader was made aware that Mrs. Peniston was angry and disappointed in Lily, it came as quite a shock to her. I feel as though this entire situation radiated irony. Lily had finally believed that she was going to survive without drastic measures due to the estate, yet now she finds herself in an even worse predicament. Although she probably deserves what occurred, resulting in a bruised ego which she probably needed, I cannot help but feel sympathy towards Lily. Yes, she needs to get her life on track and realize that she cannot freeload off of others, but being disinherited by Mrs. Peniston was rather harsh, especially since Lily does not know the reason Peniston was angry. Living in a dingy hotel, disgusted with what she has come to, Lily, rather than trying to fix her situation, decides that “she must try to marry Rosedale,” (Wharton, 200) as even though she does not care for him, he can take her problems away. Once again, Lily’s shallowness and selfishness overpower any thoughts she might have of pulling her life together, as apparently Mrs. Peniston’s disinheritance of her was not an extensive enough wake up call.

The House of Mirth: Book 2, Chapters 3 and 4

Chapters three and four of Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth bring to light the prevalence of a certain theme in the novel. This theme, as so cleverly realized out by Lily Bart, is the importance of convenience. Since the very first chapter of this book, Lily has struggled with not only making friends, but keeping them for more than a few weeks. This difficulty is brought about due to convenience. When Lily has a positive, radiant reputation among society, it is convenient so to speak to befriend her and treat her well, yet when extra baggage is put on her plate or unsavory rumors spread, it is much easier for society to shun her. In these chapters, even though Mrs. Bertha Dorset has been cheating on her husband and making a bad name for herself, she switched around stories and got society hooked on Lily’s misfortunes and mistakes. Lily exclaims how it is so much simpler and less stressful for everyone to trust Bertha, “because she has a big house and an opera box, and it’s convenient to be on good terms with her,” (Wharton, 182). Fortunately, there is one decent character in this novel that does not fall prey to the selfishness of the late nineteenth century wealthy, and she is Gerty Farish. Most likely because she has faced money problems and not always had everything handed to her on a silver platter, Gerty does not bother with convenience, rather she sees the importance in being a decent person and friend. Yet, even with the presence of a person who cares, Lily struggles with the fact that the rest of society does not see her problems fit to deal with. As one to base her decisions partially on convenience too, I believe for the first time, Lily has realized that her fellow members of society are not the great people she sought to be like, but rather cowards who run at the first sound of danger or trouble. Furthermore, as convenience rules Lily’s social world, the same situation occurs today. People seek those who have the most to offer them, but if something comes up that puts a halt to those benefits, they move on to another person who is less complicated. In a world that runs on the convenience of things, one must be careful that they do not drop relationships if uncertainty becomes a factor.

The House of Mirth: Book 2, Chapters 1 and 2

Bertha Dorset: Antagonist Extraordinaire

After reading chapters one and two of book two in Edith Wharton’s novel, The House of Mirth, I believe that the true antagonist of the book has been revealed. Although other characters have created problems for Lily Bart, Bertha Dorset is undeniably the most vindictive towards her. Constantly sabotaging or threatening Lily, Bertha has intentionally damaged her reputation many times in the past, and yet once again in these chapters. Lily eventually discovered that Bertha had only invited her to join the Dorsets on a cruise to provide a distraction for her husband, as she had been having an affair with Ned Silverton. When an incident occurs and George Dorset discovers his wife’s infidelity, Bertha turns the situation around on Lily, closing the door on her own mistakes and opening another on Lily’s blunders. Bertha blamed her for accompanying her own husband at night while she was off with Ned, causing unsavory rumors towards the relationship between Lily and Mr. Dorset. Bertha exclaimed to an irritated Lily, “I didn’t understand that one of my negative duties was not to warn you when you carried your imprudence too far,” (Wharton, 168). Throughout the entirety on the novel, Bertha, a clever manipulator, has avoided shame and disgrace by turning any attention away from herself and onto another scandal, regardless of whether she has to craft a story or simply remind everyone of another’s fault. Furthermore, Bertha’s antagonistic characteristics shine through as she attacks those who are after something she wants. Rather like a child who does not get her way, Bertha retaliates in a violent fashion, seeking destruction on her opponent. She also gains pleasure from the pain of her victims, as portrayed by Lily in “the impenetrable insolence of Bertha’s smile,” (Wharton, 168). This attitude of superiority and disrespect for others had instilled fear in Lily, as she was well aware that her reputation was on the line with any mistake she made. Because of her cleverly crafted schemes, her despicable attitude towards and treatment of others, and her disrespect towards dignity, Bertha excels as an antagonist.

The House of Mirth: Book 1, Chapter 15

Chapter fifteen of Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth brings two new and confusing twists into the life of the ever charming Lily Bart, both of which can have a major impact on the way the remainder of the novel proceeds. First of all, Simon Rosedale, an incredibly wealthy man disliked by Lily, practically gives her a proposal for a proposal. That is, he goes into great detail of the many reasons Lily should marry him. This addition to the book was a surprise to me, and to even Lily it seems. However, if she would accept his proposal, the road the novel is taking me on could take an interesting turn. At this point, it had seemed that Lily was destined for the single life due to her recent not-so-intelligent decisions and the disappearance of Lawrence Selden, but Mr. Rosedale could change those odds. Yet, if Lily were to marry him, she would be living the life of luxury that she wants so terribly, but also the life of servitude and limitation that she despises ever so much. Towards the end of the chapter, I believe Lily was going to accept the proposal due to her discovery that Selden, her true love, has left the country, but then twist number two comes into play. Lily opens a letter from the deceitful and manipulative Bertha Dorset to read, “Sailing unexpectedly tomorrow. Will you join us on a cruise in Mediterranean?” (Wharton, 146). In my opinion, this sounds far better than marrying Rosedale, but the presence of Bertha Dorset could be a problem. Bertha is known for disliking Lily because of her relationship with Selden, so an invitation to cruise with her could be problematic for Lily. Bertha had tormented and spread rumors about Lily before, and a cruise with her would just open up more opportunities for Lily’s downfall. At this point, caught between marriage to Rosedale and impending danger aboard a cruise with Bertha Dorset, it seems as though Lily is in quite a pickle.

The House of Mirth: Book 1, Chapters 13 and 14

After reading chapters 13 and 14 of Edith Wharton’s novel, The House of Mirth, I recognized a topic that has been building up throughout the entire book. This topic is friendship. In my opinion, a friend is someone who genuinely cares for one and wishes for their well-being, and it occurred to me that this word is much more loosely used by the characters in the book. At the beginning of the novel, Lily Bart, the main character, considers herself to have many friends. However, as time goes on and Lily’s reputation becomes increasingly tainted and disastrous, she begins to discover that those so called “friends” were only using her to their advantage. This becomes a pattern among many of the characters. They only befriend a person if they can gain something from the relationship, and if the usefulness of said person runs its course, everyone abandons them. As Lily was considered very beautiful, many of the others used that to their advantage, yet have not repaid her by trying to learn the other stories regarding her supposedly appalling actions. This, in my opinion, is the exact opposite of friendship and is rather the definition of manipulation.

One character, Gerty Farish, discovered that her beloved cousin, Lawrence Selden, had paid her a visit only to learn more about Lily. Because of this realization, Gerty turned all of her anger towards Lily, and “she lay face to face with the fact that she hated Lily Bart,” (Wharton, 132). Selden was inconsiderate one time, and because of it, Lily fell from being a dear friend to being hated. Furthermore, before her abrupt hatred towards Lily, I respected Gerty as a character, but she proved to be a perfect example of how fickle and insincere the word “friend” could be during the time period in which the book takes place.

The House of Mirth: Book 1, Chapters 11 and 12

Lily Bart

After reading chapters eleven and twelve of The House of Mirth, authored by Edith Wharton, my attention was drawn to one particular statement made by Lily Bart. At this point in the novel, Lawrence Selden had just confessed that he was in love with Lily, and she responded, “Ah, love me, love me – but don’t tell me so!” (Wharton, 112). Her reaction to Selden’s declaration is rather confusing to me. At this point, I still do not understand why Lily does not consider marrying him. Selden is the exclusive person in this novel that makes Lily feel truly important, appreciated, and wanted, and for more than just her beauty. However, she does not want to spend her life with him for some reason that frankly, I cannot figure out. Furthermore, her response to Selden’s profession of love, that he should still love her, but not tell her, seems to be strange. Perhaps she has some reason to not marry Selden, and she does not want to be aware that he loves her, because it could cause her to falter in her decision. Moreover, Lily may not want Selden to admit his love because she does not want it to affect the comfortable and cherished friendship they share. Even nowadays, friendships that turn into relationships occasionally end in a bad situation, and I believe Lily does not lose what they have. She seems to genuinely care about Selden, a rare occurrence in this novel, and she wants him to continue to care for her just so she knows someone does. With her recent actions, Lily had lost many friends, and she most likely does not want to lose the one true friend she has left. Yet, after all, I still do not understand Lily’s reasoning behind her avoidance of marriage to Selden, and it is among many of her other secrets that have yet to be revealed.

The House of Mirth: Book 1, Chapters 9 and 10

Chapters nine and ten of The House of Mirth, a novel written by Edith Wharton, bring a previously mentioned character, Gerty Farish, back into the picture. Although she is a minor character, in my opinion, Gerty brings a positive attitude and to what is turning out to be a rather depressing book. Although she unmarried, not the prettiest girl out there, and not the richest of the rich, Gerty is the most pleasant, sweet character that I have discovered so far. Although many of the other high society women disregard Gerty and treat her badly, she always acts with grace and kindness when speaking to and of others. It is because of her wonderful personality that the way the other women treat her really bothers me. It is never right to treat someone with disrespect, but is so much worse when the target has done nothing wrong and is not even aware of others’ perceptions of her. Selfish Lily Bart especially angers me with the way she treats Gerty. Lily tolerates Gerty only when she sees it as an opportunity to boost her ego or reputation. When Gerty comes to Lily, depressed that one of her charities was unsuccessful, Lily decides to donate money to the program, only because “she felt that her momentary burst of generosity had justified all previous extravagances, and excused any in which she might subsequently indulge,” (Wharton, 91). While the wealthier women are complaining and moaning about trivial things, Gerty is only ever upset because of something charitable that did not work out. This action just proves her that her true character is one of happiness and love, and it is shameful that the other characters do not respect her for it.

The House of Mirth: Book 1, Chapters 7 and 8



Bertha Dorset

After reading chapters seven and eight of Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth, I could not help but notice that many of the women who associate with Lily have an absolute disrespect for marriage and its boundaries. Two characters who particularly display this attitude are Bertha Dorset and Carry Fisher. Dorset, a supposedly cruel and heartless woman who enjoys making others miserable, has had what one could only call an obsession with Lawrence Selden for a long time, regardless of the fact that she is married. She openly pursues him in front of her husband, and flirts shamelessly. Furthermore, all of Bertha’s friends are aware of her obsession and avoid him so as not to interfere with her. When Bertha gets upset because of Lily’s close bond with Selden and, in revenge, spreads rumors about Lily, Judy Trenor has the nerve to rebuke Lily for speaking to him, stating that “she [Bertha] had a right to retaliate – why on earth did you interfere with her?” (Wharton, 60). Frankly, the fact that marriage and respect and devotion to one’s spouse means nothing to these women is incredibly inappropriate. Marriage is a sacred bond between two people, and personally, I believe it should not be interfered with.

Carry Fisher

Additionally, women should not interfere with the husbands of other women in any way, which is Carry Fisher’s problem. Carry gained her fortune through multiple marriages and divorces, which in my opinion proves she had an ulterior motive for those marriages. Carry also, however, currently obtains money from many married men, just because they like her and appreciate her company. Once again, their marital status is disregarded. Although it is appropriate to help out a friend in need, I find Carry’s methods of gaining money rather dishonest. She lacks respect for those men she is taking from, and for their wives too. Plus, when she gets into a problem with money, Lily chooses the same path as Carry to gain it, even though her provider is her good friend Judy Trenor’s husband. This blatant disrespect for boundaries is entirely inappropriate, and that it bothers none of the characters is a mystery to me.

The House of Mirth: Book 1, Chapters 5 and 6

Lawrence Selden and Lily Bart

Chapters five and six of Edith Wharton’s novel, The House of Mirth, introduces the reader to the role of high society women in the 1890’s, the time period in which the novel takes place, and the way they were expected to act. Main character Lily Bart’s society had been training and coaching her for the entirety of her life to end up on the arm of a rich gentleman, one who could provide her with the dresses and glitz required of an elite, aristocratic woman. However, with that luxury, along came the expectations that Lily should obey her husband and simply worry about trivial things such as party invitations and thank you notes. And, following suit, the focus of Lily’s attention, Mr. Percy Gryce, would provide her with this lifestyle. Yet, this is where Lawrence Selden enters the picture. Selden and Lily had known each other for eight years, and although Lily had been caught up on Gryce, Selden shakes her up. While Gryce’s talks regarding Americana bore Lily, Selden provides her with interesting, thought-provoking conversation. The fact that she is a woman and, according to society, should not be troubled with certain matters does not affect him, and he genuinely enjoys Lily’s company and opinions. In regard to Lily’s question why he appreciates her, Selden states, “Because you’re such a wonderful spectacle: I always like to see what you are doing,” (Wharton, 52). This feeling of worth and importance, of being wanted, affects Lily, and she realizes that although Percy Gryce could provide her with any material thing she could ever ask for, the deep conversation that she shares with Selden would never be present. As thoughts of a life of freedom of choice and importance with Selden appeals to and fills Lily’s mind, she more seriously considers her pursuit of Gryce.  

The House of Mirth: Book 1, Chapters 3 and 4

            Chapters three and four of the novel The House of Mirth, written by Edith Wharton, introduce the reader to the relationship and background behind the main character, Lily Bart, and her mother. After analyzing the each character and their feelings toward each other, I began to notice major similarities between Lily and her mother and Rose DeWitt Bukater and her mother, characters in the film Titanic. In both the film and The House of Mirth, the main character’s father has lost his wealth. To Mrs. Bart, her husband “no longer counted: he had become extinct when he ceased to fulfill his purpose,” (Wharton, 25). Quoted from Titanic, Mrs. DeWitt Bukater exclaimed to her daughter, “Your father left us nothing but a legacy of bad debts hidden by a good name. That name is the only card we have to play.” Having always lived lives of luxury, both Lily’s mother and Rose’s mother are appalled at the idea of having to change their lifestyles. So, in order to remain in the higher social class, both women use their daughter’s eligibility and beauty to try and catch the eye of a wealthy man. Insensitive to their daughters’ wishes, both mothers search for the person who can provide the elegance and extravagance they require. Lily’s beauty became her mother’s ticket into high society, and “she studied it with a kind of passion, as though it were some weapon she had slowly fashioned for her vengeance,” (Wharton, 26). The lack of care or concern for her daughter’s opinion and the objectifying attitude Mrs. Bart appoints to Lily is mirrored in Rose and her mother’s relationship. Mrs. DeWitt Bukater uses Rose’s name to lure in a man, ultimately leaving Rose trapped in a net with a man who only loves her name. Because of the harsh, inconsiderate, and selfish natures of both Mrs. Bart and Mrs. DeWitt Bukater, comparisons can be drawn between the novel and the film.

Titanic. Dir. James Cameron. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Paramount, 1997. DVD.

The House of Mirth: Book 1, Chapters 1 and 2

After reading chapters one and two of The House of Mirth, a novel authored by Edith Wharton, one character that really caught my attention and quite honestly confused me was Mr. Percy Gryce. At first, when introduced to Gryce, I gaged him to be a rather flat character, with the personality to be that of a shy, attention-avoiding man. When Lily first sees him while traveling, he even seems embarrassed to encounter her. Furthermore, he is portrayed as a man “who had promised his mother never to go out in the rain without his overshoes,” (Wharton, 14). Statements made about Gryce such as this suggest him to be a slight pushover who would really be happy with a life void of confrontation. However, as I continued to read, the topic of Americana emerged, and that was when my perception of Gryce began to change. Perhaps more of a round character, it seems as though the more Lily Bart fed Gryce’s interest, the more open and proud he seemed. The book mentions that Gryce “took, in the printed mention of his name, a pleasure so exquisite and excessive that it seemed a compensation for his shrinking from publicity,” (Wharton, 16). To me, this look into the depth of Gryce’s personality proved that he had developed a sense of superiority in his hobby, and that he took great enjoyment from people praising and recognizing him for it. Lily Bart claims that Gryce’s egoism needed constant care and “watering” so to speak, quite similar to a plant. Bart’s recognition of this personality trait shows that Gryce is apparently the type of person who must constantly be fed praise and admiration for his work. This just further explores that although Gryce might initially come across as a quiet, introverted man, there is more to his character than meets the eye.