House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
This section of the book can be characterized by an economic dip, where "prices fell in accordance with that peculiar law which proves railway stocks and bales of cotton to be more sensitive to the allotment of executive power" (Wharton 98). This economic fall brings about a change in how people of the upper class live. There are not as many extravagant events or balls to attend, dinners and parties are shorter, and fashion industry slows tremendously. Despite this economic misfortune for many, some people, Welly Bry and Mr.Rosedale, found a way to stay ahead.
Thanksgiving season is usually one to foster family bonding and kindness, however, not in this case. Mrs. Peniston's dinner parties are envied by all the family and when Lily convinced Mrs. Peniston to deny Grace Stepney an invitation, Grace sought revenge. Grace had suspicions about Lily and Mr. Trenor so Grace lied to Mrs. Peniston, telling her that Lily and Mr. Trenor were having an affair. While this is not true, Lily's image within the group has been marred.
After the holiday season, Lily Returns to Belmont. Mrs. Bry uses her newly acquired wealth to put on a fashion show where people dress up and pose to imitate famous art works. At the show, Trenor confronts Lily and complains that she had not been fulfilling her obligation to him in exchange for him handling her finances. Also at the party, Selden and Lily retreat to the garden where they share a kiss, however, Lily again expresses that she does not want to marry him due to financial reasons.
These two chapters of the book mark much of the conflict that has been brewing due to Lily's wheelings and dealings. We shall see how she deals with these problems as the story progresses.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Chapters 9 & 10. Book 1
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
In this section of the book, Lily has an epiphany about her view of wealth. She initially saw wealth as a way to gauge status. Lily realizes the good that wealth could do through charity, whereas " she had never before thought of doing good with the wealth she had so often dreamed of possessing, but now her horizon was enlarged by the vision of a prodigal philanthropy" (Wharton, 91). This new realization goes against everything that Lily's mother taught her. Lily's new attitude differs greatly from her old attitude from when she had a conversation with Selden where she discussed her plans to use her wealth to do very little. Selden challenged her to use her wealth for more than just living in luxury. Selden showed her that wealth was not happiness, just a channel to attain happiness. Money was just one way of making a difference and making her name known to the public. This new view of wealth marks a drastic change in Lily Bart's personality in that she is separating herself from the vanity and shallowness that her mother taught her in exchange for an appreciation of making ones own way and living modestly much like Mr. Selden. Perhaps now that Lily has an altered view of what wealth can do for her and her desire to be wealthy had died down, her relationship with Selden can blossom.
In this section of the book, Lily has an epiphany about her view of wealth. She initially saw wealth as a way to gauge status. Lily realizes the good that wealth could do through charity, whereas " she had never before thought of doing good with the wealth she had so often dreamed of possessing, but now her horizon was enlarged by the vision of a prodigal philanthropy" (Wharton, 91). This new realization goes against everything that Lily's mother taught her. Lily's new attitude differs greatly from her old attitude from when she had a conversation with Selden where she discussed her plans to use her wealth to do very little. Selden challenged her to use her wealth for more than just living in luxury. Selden showed her that wealth was not happiness, just a channel to attain happiness. Money was just one way of making a difference and making her name known to the public. This new view of wealth marks a drastic change in Lily Bart's personality in that she is separating herself from the vanity and shallowness that her mother taught her in exchange for an appreciation of making ones own way and living modestly much like Mr. Selden. Perhaps now that Lily has an altered view of what wealth can do for her and her desire to be wealthy had died down, her relationship with Selden can blossom.
Chapters 7 & 8. Book 1
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
This is where Lily Bart's situation gets a little complicated. Lily makes deals with many of the characters introduced to us in previous chapters. An initial financial deal with Mr. Trenor leads to Lily having to gain the favor of Rosedale so that he entrusts his wealth to Mr. Trenor. This would be no problem for Lily if she was only seeking wealth. However, Lily realizes that she would have to lie and alienate Selden, which she has a problem with doing. Lily has realized her true feelings for Selden, but marrying him would lead to financial restrictions. The decision comes down to financial future for abandoning her love, or marrying who she adores for giving up luxury.
While Lily is in personal turmoil, Gryce realizes how he is losing the favor of Lily Bart. He begins seeking out other potential suitors. Lily sees that she is losing Gryce so she puts her energy into saving that relationship, all to no avail when she finds that Gryce is engaged to Evie Van Osburgh. Now, Lily faces new challenges. Her financial future is in peril, her vanity has betrayed her, and she now has to make a life altering decision between Mr. Trenor, Mr. Gryce, and Mr. Selden. Trenor would give her financial stability and success, Gryce would provide a wealthy yet shallow and vain life, and Selden would give Lily Bart a modest and happy life. Lily was saddened to realize that "If anything was needed to put the last touch to her self-abasement it was the sense of the way her old life was opening its ruts again to receive her" (Wharton, 62).
This is where Lily Bart's situation gets a little complicated. Lily makes deals with many of the characters introduced to us in previous chapters. An initial financial deal with Mr. Trenor leads to Lily having to gain the favor of Rosedale so that he entrusts his wealth to Mr. Trenor. This would be no problem for Lily if she was only seeking wealth. However, Lily realizes that she would have to lie and alienate Selden, which she has a problem with doing. Lily has realized her true feelings for Selden, but marrying him would lead to financial restrictions. The decision comes down to financial future for abandoning her love, or marrying who she adores for giving up luxury.
While Lily is in personal turmoil, Gryce realizes how he is losing the favor of Lily Bart. He begins seeking out other potential suitors. Lily sees that she is losing Gryce so she puts her energy into saving that relationship, all to no avail when she finds that Gryce is engaged to Evie Van Osburgh. Now, Lily faces new challenges. Her financial future is in peril, her vanity has betrayed her, and she now has to make a life altering decision between Mr. Trenor, Mr. Gryce, and Mr. Selden. Trenor would give her financial stability and success, Gryce would provide a wealthy yet shallow and vain life, and Selden would give Lily Bart a modest and happy life. Lily was saddened to realize that "If anything was needed to put the last touch to her self-abasement it was the sense of the way her old life was opening its ruts again to receive her" (Wharton, 62).
Chapters 5 & 6. Book 1
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
In this section of the book, there is a personality shift that can be seen in Lily Bart. Initially, Lily Bart seems obsessed with vanity and wealth and she intends to maintain status by marrying someone who is wealthy, at least that is what her mother desires. Enter Gryce, the rich someone who Lily is manipulating and gaining the favor of. Lily promises Gryce that she would attend Sunday Mass with him, however, Lily makes excuses to get herself out of that obligation in order to spend time with Mr. Selden, who exemplifies a modest, middle class life. At this point in the story, the relationship between Lily and Selden begins to develop into something more. Also at this point, the story bares a resemblance to a teen drama where Lily, the preppy popular cheerleader, begins to fall for Selden, the less popular yet charming kid, over Mr. Gryce, the popular and rich jock who everybody is expecting Lily to choose to take to prom because that is what the social norm would dictate. This is where Lily Bart discovers that she really wishes to be with Selden. This makes the primary theme clearly visible. That is that Lily Bart is destined to go against the social norm and make her own decision to be with someone she truly loves over someone in the same social class as her. Lily's personality change is epitomized when "carrying her glance a few feet farther, to set up a rapid comparison between Lawrence Selden and Mr. Gryce. It was that comparison which was her undoing. Why else had she suddenly grow interested in Selden" (Wharton, 43)?
In this section of the book, there is a personality shift that can be seen in Lily Bart. Initially, Lily Bart seems obsessed with vanity and wealth and she intends to maintain status by marrying someone who is wealthy, at least that is what her mother desires. Enter Gryce, the rich someone who Lily is manipulating and gaining the favor of. Lily promises Gryce that she would attend Sunday Mass with him, however, Lily makes excuses to get herself out of that obligation in order to spend time with Mr. Selden, who exemplifies a modest, middle class life. At this point in the story, the relationship between Lily and Selden begins to develop into something more. Also at this point, the story bares a resemblance to a teen drama where Lily, the preppy popular cheerleader, begins to fall for Selden, the less popular yet charming kid, over Mr. Gryce, the popular and rich jock who everybody is expecting Lily to choose to take to prom because that is what the social norm would dictate. This is where Lily Bart discovers that she really wishes to be with Selden. This makes the primary theme clearly visible. That is that Lily Bart is destined to go against the social norm and make her own decision to be with someone she truly loves over someone in the same social class as her. Lily's personality change is epitomized when "carrying her glance a few feet farther, to set up a rapid comparison between Lawrence Selden and Mr. Gryce. It was that comparison which was her undoing. Why else had she suddenly grow interested in Selden" (Wharton, 43)?
Chapters 3 & 4. Book 1
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
In the beginning of Chapter III, there is a prime example of lavishness and luxury experienced by the upper class of the early twentieth century. However, the setting is not the most important information that can be gleaned from this chapter. More about Lily Bart's personality is revealed, especially the aspect of her being a man eater, as well as being thrifty despite her desire to live lavishly. Lily Bart expresses her desire to live in the lap of luxury, however, she tires of being handed the means to do so. Lily Bart finds herself in a tricky predicament where she lacks the means to live the rich life on her own, which Wharton reveals about Lily Bart when it is stated that "For a long time she had refused to play bridge. She knew she could not afford it, and she was afraid of acquiring so expensive a taste" (Wharton, 20), while at the same time, Lily Bart does not want to be handed luxury or fortune.
Also in this section of the book, much of Lily Bart's past is revealed through flashbacks. Family issues and influence are revealed. Mr. Bart never really had a huge impact on lily because of his absence from the home. Lily's primary influence was her mother, who's vanity and shallowness were passed on to Lily. However, it seems that Lily wishes to break free from the vanity ingrained into her personality from her youth. Lily reveals that she refuses to marry a man solely on the fact that he is wealthy.
Along with the development of the main characters, several minor characters are revealed, most of whom are more than likely destined to disappear from the story.
In the beginning of Chapter III, there is a prime example of lavishness and luxury experienced by the upper class of the early twentieth century. However, the setting is not the most important information that can be gleaned from this chapter. More about Lily Bart's personality is revealed, especially the aspect of her being a man eater, as well as being thrifty despite her desire to live lavishly. Lily Bart expresses her desire to live in the lap of luxury, however, she tires of being handed the means to do so. Lily Bart finds herself in a tricky predicament where she lacks the means to live the rich life on her own, which Wharton reveals about Lily Bart when it is stated that "For a long time she had refused to play bridge. She knew she could not afford it, and she was afraid of acquiring so expensive a taste" (Wharton, 20), while at the same time, Lily Bart does not want to be handed luxury or fortune.
Also in this section of the book, much of Lily Bart's past is revealed through flashbacks. Family issues and influence are revealed. Mr. Bart never really had a huge impact on lily because of his absence from the home. Lily's primary influence was her mother, who's vanity and shallowness were passed on to Lily. However, it seems that Lily wishes to break free from the vanity ingrained into her personality from her youth. Lily reveals that she refuses to marry a man solely on the fact that he is wealthy.
Along with the development of the main characters, several minor characters are revealed, most of whom are more than likely destined to disappear from the story.
Chapters 1 & 2. Book 1
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
What better way is there to start a story then with sighting an old friend in an untypical place. Edith Wharton seems to have set up what at first glance can be described as a typical cliche love story, even with the cheesy comments like "his eyes had been refreshed by the sight of Miss Lily Bart" (Wharton, 1).Selden, the first character introduced, who longs for Lily Bart, meets her in a place that is described as unsuited for her attendance. Selden longs for more interaction with Lily Bart, who seems to have no desire to do the same with Selden. The feel of a typical love story disappears as the first chapter progresses. Lily Bart reveals that she wishes to abandon the domestic lifestyle that the time period has condemned her to live for a bachelorette lifestyle. Lily Bart dreams of home ownership, which was unheard of at the time, and to be unrestricted by a husband, also against the grain of society.
Along with Lily Bart and Selden, two other characters are introduced. Mr. Rosedale, a model of obsession for high-living who's primary concern is conforming with society and making himself look good, and Mr. Gryce, who can be described as soft spoken and will probably disappear into the background of the story. I think that the outstanding theme of the story will be to go against the grain of society, only time will reveal whether I am correct or not.
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