The Great Gatsby: Pages 145-156

In my opinion, these pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, mark the downfall of character Daisy Buchanan. All throughout the novel, I had liked the character of Daisy as I believed she was one of the few, honest people in the story. She always had something funny to say, and I had always hoped that she would be the character to turn out alright. However, after the intense encounter with her husband Tom and Gatsby, I lost all respect for her. It seems as though at this point, when all had gone to chaos and been revealed, she gave up and chose the easy way out. Daisy disregarded the fact that she had cheated on her husband, and she chose instead to fill the shoes of the victim, the one who was hurt in the end. She completely abandoned the man she loved, Jay Gatsby, because of his indiscretions and sketchy business dealings, but she refused to see that she had done the same thing. Daisy chose the direction that would cause her the least amount of trouble in the end and that would ensure that she would be well taken care of for the rest of her life. Yet, through that decision, she broke the heart of the one man who truly cared for and loved her. Gatsby was the one who stood outside her house for hours, making sure that Tom treated her well and hoping that she would join him, but she never showed up. Gatsby returned home the next morning, dejected and depressed with no words other than “nothing happened,” (Fitzgerald, 147). Tom Buchanan would never have waited outside for Daisy, never would have sacrificed his time in order to make sure that nothing hurt her, and yet Daisy chose the man that had cheated on her over the one who had never stopped loving her.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 133-144

The falling action of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby crashes through the pages at this point in the novel. With the drama of the Buchanan’s unfaithfulness still in the air, the action that gets the ball rolling down the hill to the end of the story is the death of Mrs. Myrtle Wilson. As I had predicted earlier, Wilson does have a great effect on the result of the story. Because of her death, scandal now surrounds Gatsby and Daisy, as they were in the car that took her life. Myrtle’s husband, George Wilson, basically falls into a state of madness where all reasonable thought is blocked out by the idea of avenging his wife. Furthermore, the relationship between characters Jordan Baker and Nick Carraway is shot to pieces during these events. The stress of the evening’s events and the horror of the unknown breaks them apart beyond repair, ending any hope of a continued relationship. It is at this point that Carraway also loses faith in Gatsby, even though he was the one person who tried to stay his friend throughout the entire book. Not thinking about the fact that he just killed a woman, Gatsby is only concerned that no one saw that he and Daisy were the passengers of the car that killed Mrs. Wilson. The characters’ lack of concern or responsibility for their own actions drove me crazy during this novel, and Gatsby’s insensitivity towards the death of Wilson sent Carraway over the edge. He claimed, “I disliked him [Gatsby] so much by this time that I didn’t find it necessary to tell him he was wrong,” (Fitzgerald, 143). The fact that Gatsby had upset Nick so much that he refused to tell him a piece of information that could possibly get him in trouble proves that he had crossed a line, even for caring Nick.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 121-132

It is among these pages F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, where the climax occurs. Chaos breaks loose in the triangle between Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan, when Gatsby abruptly announces to Tom, “Your wife doesn’t love you…She’s never loved you. She loves me,” (Fitzgerald, 130). It is at this point that any hope of civilized discussion and understanding fizzles. Definitely the most dramatic and attention-drawing point in the novel, this encounter fulfills the role of the climax as the point of highest tension and uncertainty. At this point, I have no idea what is going to result from Gatsby’s confession. Daisy claims that she is going to leave Tom, but at this point I do not really know if she means it. Daisy is kind of a pushover, and it would not surprise me if she were to back down and choose the safe route by staying with Tom. Personally, I believe that Gatsby loves Daisy much more and would take much better care of her than Tom, who Daisy knows had an affair, but I think she is scared of the unknown. Fitzgerald writes that Daisy claims she never loved Tom, but that she says it “with perceptible reluctance,” (Fitzgerald, 132). The idea that she is reluctant to deny her love of Tom makes me wonder whether she truly does mean what she is saying, or whether she is just playing along and following Gatsby’s lead because she is scared. In these intense moments where all feeling comes out, I am not really sure what the future holds for these three characters.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 109-120

After reading this portion of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, a question Daisy Buchanan asks stuck with me as I continued to read. “‘What’ll we do with ourselves this afternoon?’ cried Daisy, ‘and the day after that, and the next thirty years?’” (Fitzgerald, 118). Although Daisy is actually complaining that the hot summer sun leaves them with nothing to do, this question made me think about both the characters’ lives and my own life. With the affairs that both Daisy and her husband are having with other people, who knows whether their marriage will last through the afternoon, let alone for thirty more years! The couple has created so much confusion and drama in their relationship that nothing holds certain for them anymore, and yes, Daisy does have reason to be worried. For character Jay Gatsby, he is relying completely on the hope that Daisy will leave Tom Buchanan, her husband, in order to be with him, but Daisy very well might change her mind, and then where will Gatsby be? He has no close friends or family except for Nick Carraway, and Nick does not even support Gatsby all of the time. All of the uncertainty surrounding one afternoon for the characters of The Great Gatsby made me think about all of the things in my life that are uncertain. Quite honestly, not one person knows whether they are going to wake up tomorrow, whether they will ever go back to school, or ever go out to dinner again. I do not know whether my parents will come home from work one day, or whether the storm brewing miles away will change my life forever. Obviously, nothing is certain. However, as none of these happenings are under our control, we must sit back and live life, as we cannot predict the future, nor can we change the past and our decisions that constantly shape our lives.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 97-108

Nick Carraway

These pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, made me aware of something that I had not really realized until this point. Throughout the entire book, narrator Nick Carraway has been describing the wild, fantastic parties of the great and mysterious Jay Gatsby. All of Long Island, plus many people from other areas of New York flock to the Gatsby Mansion to have a great time and enjoy the entertainment. However, I have just determined that unfortunately, most of the people attending the parties are just taking advantage of Gatsby. Even more disappointing is the concept that these party-goers know they are mistreating Gatsby, yet they just do not seem to care. As mentioned earlier, the majority of the attendants never see Gatsby during the party, as they have just come for the free alcohol and extravagant performances rather than for the company of a friend. Furthermore, it is mentioned that half of those who join in the parties have not even received an invitation, yet they come regardless of that fact. If any of these people really cared at all about their host, he would be sought out during his get-togethers and would be thanked for the great evening he provided. It upsets me that these people are so shallow that they would take advantage of another just for a fun evening, and especially that they do not see a problem with doing it. They make no attempt to get to know him, regardless of the number of parties they have attended, and if this says anything about the rich and powerful of the twenties decade, I am glad that I do not have to cooperate with people so inconsiderate and selfish. It is Carraway that actually puts together that others visit Gatsby only for the benefits, stating, “he [Gatsby] would be uneasy anyhow until he had given them something, realizing in a vague way that that was all they had cane for,” (Fitzgerald, 100). At some point, I believe Gatsby is going to realize what is going on, stop the parties, and then his guests will begin to realize how much they actually did appreciate him.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 85-96

Jay Gatsby

Lawrence Selden

After reading these pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, I noticed a comparison between Jay Gatsby of this novel and Lawrence Selden of Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth. It is among these pages that the reader discovers Gatsby’s infatuation with and love for Daisy Buchanan, a woman who he cannot exactly have because of her marriage to Tom Buchanan. This is similar to the predicament of Selden. Although he is in love with Miss Lily Bart, Lily is looking for a husband of higher social status and wealth and does not consider Selden a possibility, regardless of her feelings towards him. In other words, both men have reciprocated feelings towards women that they are unable to act on. Because of these feelings, they both experience feelings of loneliness and sadness that for once, they cannot get what they want. Gatsby has avoided Daisy for years, only to find out that she really does still care for him but she cannot do anything about it. Nick even describes that during her meeting Gatsby, Daisy’s face “told only of her unexpected joy,” (Fitzgerald, 89). Selden has a similar predicament, as he has to walk around with the knowledge that Lily does in fact love him, she just refuses to stoop to his level. However, I only can hope that the comparisons and similarities between these two men and these two novels end here. In The House of Mirth, Lily’s constant hope and struggle for something more prestigious leads to her downfall, and I do not want a similar thing to happen to Daisy if she gets caught up between her husband and Gatsby. There is always that possibility, and if Daisy were to ever face scandal, it could cause her the same problems that Lily Bart came to know in The House of Mirth.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 73-84

Meyer Wolfsheim

Pages seventy-three through eighty-four of The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, introduce the reader to a topic that could eventually have a negative effect on certain characters. It is here that Jay Gatsby begins to talk about how he makes a living, but in my opinion, his dealings and business appear to be rather sketchy. Although the author never comes right out and explains the details of Gatsby’s so called business, the lack of details given causes me to believe that it is something that very well might be skirting the edge of legal. Even after he is asked, Gatsby edges around actually coming straight out and saying what his profession is, and this reluctance to tell of certain details makes both me and character Nick Carraway wary of it. He speaks of the business as being “on the side” and states that “it happens to be a rather confidential sort of thing,” (Fitzgerald, 83). These descriptions do not bode well for the possibility of the business being legitimate, and they leave way to much room for the prospect of illegal activity. Furthermore, a man Gatsby does business with, Meyer Wolfsheim, is known for his indiscretions and ability to avoid punishment. Wolfsheim is a well-known gambler who apparently fixed the World Series and has avoided jail because, in the words of Jay Gatsby, “They can’t get him, old sport. He’s a smart man,” (Fitzgerald, 73). However, even if Wolfsheim has been able to stay out of the line of fire for now, he is bound to run into a predicament at some point, and at that point he could easily drag down Gatsby and even Nick Carraway with him. Although Carraway seems to want to avoid the vague and mysterious business, the prospect of gaining inordinate amounts of money oftentimes hooks the fish in the end, and involvement in anything illegal could bring him down. I can only hope that my assumptions are incorrect, and that I have just looked too far into Gatsby’s words.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 61-72

After reading these pages of The Great Gatsby, authored by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a name that I had not read for a while once again popped up. That name belongs to Mrs. Myrtle Wilson. Although she has proven to be a minor character so far, Mrs. Wilson has already had a major impact on the story, and I believe she will continue to have a huge impact on the future events that occur. Wilson is the mistress of Tom Buchanan, a wealthy man married to the lovely Daisy Buchanan. Not only is Wilson disrespecting Tom’s marriage to Daisy through her affair with Buchanan, she is also disrespecting her own, as she is also married. Furthermore, it seems as though Daisy knows something of Tom’s indiscretions, as previously in the novel Jordan Baker stated, “I thought everybody knew,” (Fitzgerald, 15) in regard to the affair. However, because of her knowledge, Daisy might have an increased want for revenge on her husband and his mistress, and her own judgment in any decisions she has to make later on in the novel might be affected by this. If Daisy has lost faith in her husband, it would not be difficult for her to try and get back at him, and even more unnecessary drama could begin to boil over. Also, things could take a turn for the worse if Tom would decide to leave Daisy because of Myrtle. If this were to happen, not only would scandal tarnish the reputations of Tom and Myrtle, but Daisy would also be stuck in the crossfire. She most likely has no income and relies on Tom’s work, so if she were left behind suddenly, Daisy could easily find herself in a dangerous situation. Fitzgerald cleverly makes an example of the importance of minor characters and the effect they can have on a story through Myrtle Wilson.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 49-60

The Dishonest Jordan Baker

After reading these pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the story of the Miss Jordan Baker begins to develop. Nick Carraway, the main character, forms an interest in the professional golfer, eventually realizing that he likes her a little more than he thought. However, just as scandal surrounds Mr. Gatsby, Jordan Baker also falls prey to it. Accused of cheating in a golf match, Carraway discloses that she also has lied while he was with her. I had previously liked Jordan and thought she seemed like an intelligent, clever girl, yet the scandals beginning to appear about her make me question my previous assessment of character. Carraway even goes as far to claim that “she was incurably dishonest,” (Fitzgerald, 58). Although I know that possibly, I am getting a little too caught up in the story, I really do like Carraway, and I do not want to see him fall in love with Jordan if her dishonesty is going to continue. If she lies in her profession, who knows what else she might lie about, and I do not want Nick to fall into a predicament because of her dishonesty. Furthermore, the Carraway concludes that “Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men,” (Fitzgerald, 57) which could possibly be because they discover her indiscretions too quickly, maybe even calling her out on them. Yet, Jordan does seem to like Nick Carraway, and he does not seem to be the pushover type. Although Carraway does not seem to mind her dishonesty, I would be wary of anyone who does not seem to care about misleading others. Jordan Baker proves to be another mysteriously developing round character in this novel, and I would not be surprised if the scandals regarding her life and that of her friend Gatsby continue to shape the novel and the characters that interact with them.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 37-48



A Party at Gatsby's Mansion

As more and more mysteries, suspicions, and gossip about the great Mr. Gatsby emerge throughout these pages, the reader is finally introduced to the man himself. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald ensures that the life of the title character of his novel, The Great Gatsby, still remains a guarded secret. This has made me curious over the reason for the secrecy, which I am sure was also the author’s intention. Gatsby throws grand parties that everyone and anyone attends, yet he is rarely seen during them. Why is he so elusive? It seems as though he is a decent person, but the fact that not one person seems to know his true past is confusing. Rumors drift around that he might have killed someone or that he is from a prominent family in Germany, yet although Gatsby must know about the misconceptions regarding his person, he does not set anyone straight. I, if being accused of murder by others, would make a very important point of proving them wrong about such an inhumane act, but Gatsby does not seem to care or worry about the speculations surrounding him. Furthermore, when main character Nick Carraway finally meets the mysterious man, he does not really know whether to believe what he is told. It seems that Gatsby has spread many stories about himself to various members of the community, but because of his mystery, many are skeptical about him. To me, Gatsby is best described with the same words Carraway uses to describe Gatsby’s extravagant parties, “significant, elemental, and profound,” (Fitzgerald, 47). My final question is why, out of all the people that have to be living in Long Island, does all the controversy surround one specific person? I am sure, however, that the elemental significance of Gatsby will be sure to unfold as the novel continues.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 25-36

Pages twenty-five through thirty-six of F. Scott’s Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, brought to my attention a concept that I also noticed in Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth. That concept is the complete disregard for the boundaries and commitment of marriage. Several characters in The House of Mirth had frequent, long-term affairs with other characters, regardless of their marital status. Once again, the characters of The Great Gatsby fall prey to temptation and partake in their own affairs. Tom Buchanan, a wealthy, married man living in Long Island, has his own mistress, Myrtle Wilson, who is also married! Tom is even well-acquainted with, maybe even friends with his mistress’ husband. The unaffected way in which these characters deceive each other and treat each other wrongly just is not right. Tom only puts up with Mr. Wilson because of Myrtle, and he even goes as far to get amusement out of his indiscretions, stating that Mr. Wilson “thinks she goes to see her sister in New York. He’s so dumb he doesn’t know he’s alive,” (Fitzgerald, 26). Although I completely disagree with the affairs that seem to be so common in these late 1800’s, early 1900’s novels, the aspect of them that probably bothers me the most is the affect they can have of the faithful husband or wife. For those who have done nothing wrong, they seem to go through life unaware of the fact that their closest friends and confidants are secretly betraying them. Occasionally, these characters even are aware that some other man or woman is more important to their spouse than they are. The prominence of affairs in historical literature of this time gives me cause to believe that this was normal behavior during the Roaring Twenties, and that unfortunately makes me think a little less of what seemed to be such a successful decade in our country’s history.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 13-24

Daisy Buchanan

Pages thirteen through twenty-four of The Great Gatsby introduced me to an element that, no offense to author F. Scott Fitzgerald, I never expected to see in a novel written over seventy-five years ago. That element is humor. Truthfully, I expected reading this book to be an unpleasant experience, but I actually found myself laughing from time to time! Main character Nick Carraway’s witty personality got a smile out of me more than once during these chapters, and his distant relative Daisy Buchanan also was a source of amusement. Although I found the other novel this summer, Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth, interesting, it lacked the humor that I have found so far in The Great Gatsby and became rather dull and boring at times because of it. I believe that, whether he intended it or not, Fitzgerald’s clever humor added to the popularity of his book and the legacy it has left behind. For example, in answer to a question about whether he wanted to hear about the butler’s nose while having dinner at the Buchanan’s house, Carraway sarcastically replies, “That’s the reason I came over tonight,” (Fitzgerald, 13). Also, Daisy Buchanan adds her own comedic elements to the novel through her entertaining and ridiculous exaggerations and suggestions, including the prospect of arranging a marriage between Carraway and one of her friends. I have found that the humor present in the book has sparked my interest and kept me interested, which was most likely the intention of the author. Taking place in the 1920’s, a prosperous and exciting time in American history, it is likely that humor did play a large part in the people of that decade. When money is not a problem and families are not struggling to get by every day, humor and laughter replace the stress that usually comes with poverty. By incorporating this element into his novel, not only did Fitzgerald portray the Roaring Twenties with accuracy, he also captured the reader’s attention and drew them into the setting and time period of his story.

The Great Gatsby: Pages 1-12

King Midas

While reading pages one through twelve of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, I came across an allusion that seems to portray a major topic and factor in the book. Main character Nick Carraway describes how, as a young man, he bought certain books regarding topics such as banking and investments with the hope that they would “unfold the shining secrets that only Midas and Morgan and Maecenas knew,” (Fitzgerald, 4). These three men have been preserved in history because of their desire for wealth and their ability to attain it. Although I have only read a small portion of The Great Gatsby, I have already determined that wealth is going to be a prominent topic in the novel. Nick Carraway speaks of the fashionable mansions and affluent families of East and West Egg, Long Island, and the importance of proving one’s wealth. For example, Carraway’s small house is considered an eyesore by the others of the area just because it was not of excessive size and cost. When Carraway partakes in an evening with his former friends, the Buchanans, their obsession over money becomes evident. From Tom’s unconcealed comments about the beauty and extravagance of his home to the lavish descriptions of it, the importance of wealth in the early 1920’s emerges further. However, as myths and stories of historical characters such as Midas come to mind, I wonder whether wealth will lead to downfall in this novel just as it did for King Midas. Oftentimes, wealth can lead to a sense of invincibility and power, two feelings that Tom Buchanan already experiences slightly due to his enormous build and past as a football player. Furthermore, Gatsby, the wealthy title character of the novel, still remains mysterious in his influence on the story. As I continue to read, I am curious to see whether wealth will lead to a positive end, or whether the gold touch of Midas will break men down once again.

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.