Blog 15- My overall opinion of the ENTIRE novel

The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, in my opinion, was a tough read. Perhaps, the barrier which kept me from thoroughly enjoying the novel was my inability to fully relate to any of the characters. Because of the importance of rank and wealth being focal points of twentieth century society, I find these things evident but not extremely important in my current life. Taking into account my young age, maybe the emphasis on wealth made by the novel will be easier to understand as I get older and money and income have a greater role in my life. Additionally, oftentimes, in the novel I became frustrated with the idea that most all the characters were trying to please others rather than themselves. As hard as it may be, I try to live for myself and not to please or impress others. I found that many people in the story, for example, Lily Bart, were obsessed with the idea of being rich like seemingly all the others. " 'Did you ever see such jewels? Do look at Mrs. George Dorset's pearls,' " (Wharton,107-108).. Lily I feel wastes her time comparing herself to others instead of bettering herself. Despite the negatives I found in the book, I did take away some valuable lessons. To name a few, realizing some things are not meant to be, people will accept money and deny they have a soul, and love waited out is a love potentially lost. Overall, I didn't love this book but I didn't hate it either.

Blog 14- Detailed response to a specific line and comparison to another work:quotes

In the final chapter of The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, the novel comes to a close with exciting events and truths unraveling. I believe this to be the part of the novel where Selden's love for Miss Lily Bart is publicly expressed and understood. He understands the situations which made loving her so difficult and comes to terms with the fact that they never could truly be each other's. A quote mentioned in the novel sparked many related quotes. "He saw that all the conditions of life had conspired to keep them apart," "But at least he had loved her," (Wharton,267-268).. I thought this to go along the same line as the phrase, "Better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all." The idea is that, painful as it may be, having the experience and joys that love can bring is more fulfilling than to have never shared in that experience. Selden had loved Lily Bart, and that in itself is important. The idea of life conspiring to make their love not work out reminded me of a quote from the book Criss Cross. "Hector did look at Debbie, and he saw her, really saw her for a moment. Debbie looked at Hector and she saw him, really saw him, for a moment. If it had been the same moment something might have happened. But their moments were separated by about a second. Their paths crossed, but they missed each other." Sometimes, what can be is not destined to be. Just as Debbie and Hector's almost love, Selden and Lily's almost love wasn't fated and therefore, they missed each other.

Blog 13- Detailed response to a specific scene and my opinion

In The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Miss Lily Bart makes the unwise decision to overdose on chloral, thus, ending her life. I noticed prior some signs of her downward spiral. Though, Lily's death doesn't take place until the final pages of the book, earlier her lonliness and worrries consumed her every thought. "...she discovered and increasing sense of lonliness, " (Wharton,238).. Miss Lily Bart's lonliness is a reoccuring pattern which, to her, only chloral can subdue. "The thought of the chloral was the only spot of light in the dark prospect: she could feel its lulling influence stealing over her already," (Wharton,253). This feeling of Miss Bart's foreshadows the medication permanetly stealing over her, which is her death. Lily Bart always came across to me as a weak character but her death, brought on by herself, was unexpected even given the possible signs of suicidal thinking. Although, Lily never thought the increased dosage would hurt her, I believe the taking of her life to be unevitable. Lily seemed to be heading towards the direction of dreading her existence.

Blog 12- Discussion of the role played by a minor character

As Miss Lily Bart in The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton escalades into deep depression and loneliness, caused by poverty and sleepless nights, she finds hope in Nettie Struther. I believe Nettie, being such a minor character in the story, and not having been introduced until chapter 13, was placed with much purpose. Ironic and hopeful I find it that, just as Miss Bart was in her lowest state, Mrs. Struther symbolizes strength in adversity, rising above her hardships. To show, "But Nettie Struther's frail envelope was now alive with hope and energy:whatever fate the future reserved for her, she would not be cast into the refuse-heap without a struggle," (Wharton,254). Nettie's role is to pose as the strength in which Lily cannot find in herself. Mrs. Struther's entrance into the novel couldn't have been timed more perfectly. I believe Nettie's admiration for Lily shows her there are still people who believe in her. Nettie coaxes Miss Bart to be happier with herself. Nettie even says about her child, " 'Wouldn't it be too lovely for anything if she could grow up to be just like you,' " (Wharton,257)? Its funny and relieving that there is someone who thinks the world of Miss Bart. Lily has been saddened lately by her apparently burdensome ways and hopefully is relieved to know not everyone has closed their door on her.

Blog 11- Analysis of Gerty Farish and Lawrence Selden's relationship

Selden and Miss Gerty Farish's cousinly relationship has been overshadowed by the dramas of Miss Lily Bart in The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. However, I noticed, signs of Gerty's love for Selden since she felt betrayed by Miss Bart's growing affection for him, and him for Miss Bart. Thus, I pity Gerty Farish and have since the beginning of the novel. For one, Miss Bart talks about being lonely, but I feel Gerty lies in the most solitude having no relationships but with those at her club. Gerty does have Lawrence Selden to talk to though, and in chapter 8, the two discuss Miss Lily Bart. Gerty, hiding secret affection for Selden, keeps it very low key by helping Lily and him sort out their problems and drawing them closer together. Miss Farish knows by doing so, she is pushing Selden farther from her reach and into the arms of someone else. Gerty's sacrifice is ultimate and shocking. Furthermore, I pity the fact that Gerty will probably never hear an apology or thanks for her goodwill and advice, considering both Lily and Selden remain clueless to Gerty's inward feelings. At least, Gerty Farish can hold onto the one moment of intimacy which she and Lawrence shared. "He laid his hand for a moment on hers, and there passed between them, on the current of the rare contact, one of those exchanges of meaning which fill the hidden reservoirs of affection,"(Wharton,219). This moment Miss Lily Bart cannot take away from Miss Gerty Farish.

Blog 10- Opinion of the work with related quote

Upon reading chapter 7 book II of The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, I applauded Lily Bart for her willingness to commit to a relationship and accept and share her feelings with Sim Rosedale. Prior, Lily, to me, came across as a reckless and prideful woman, adorned for her beauty and sought after for her affection. However, she seemed too picky to settle for whoever comes her way. " 'And I am ready to marry you whenever you wish,' "(Wharton,205). This shows Lily's transition into a more confident and sure individual when making decisions. Lily proves she is finally ready to make the step towards a binding union with Rosedale and accept his longtime love for her. Unfortunately by the time Lily is ready to fess up her feelings, Rosedale doesn't agree to matrimony due to Lily's current social image. I believe Mr. Rosedale's denial to Lily's request to be a wake up call that the world is not always on her clock. Miss Lily Bart for the first time doesn't get what she wants. Lily must learn that, like Pubilius Syrus said, "A good reputation is more valuable than money." Ms. Bart was narrowly focused on acquiring a sum and did thus by gambling and borrowing, thus, ruining her reputation. Sim Rosedale does not seem to want to carry the weight of Lily's mistakes on his shoulders by being engaged to her. Good luck to Miss Lily Bart on finding someone who won't judge her past wrongdoings.

Blog 9-Comparison to another work: film

In chapter 4 book II of The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily receives the bad end of the straw for her aunt's will. Feeling forgotten and unappreciated, Miss Lily Bart turns to the only one who won't turn away from her, Miss Gerty Farish. "...She found herself utterly alone except for Gerty Farsh,"(Wharton,183). Ironic that the one person who still accepts Lily Bart into her home and serves her every need, is the one who Lily unknowingly hurt by her betrayal with Selden. In my opinion, Gerty has been hurt the most throughout the story, being put on the backdrop of all things and watching her lover (Selden) fall in love with her best friend (Lily). Overall, Lily Bart and Miss Gerty Farish's friendship has stuck out to me most in the novel. While Lily's "friends" have been ones only at times for personal gain, Gerty has expected nothing in return for her hospitality. A friends betrayal reminded me of many other movies such as Goodfellas. This movie centers around a man, Henry Hill, who turns over evidence against his friend for his advantage of getting out of jail. I believe this scenario of a friend's betrayal, such as the one in the novel, can be related to many similar situations.

Bog 8-Analysis of the effect of setting

At the close of Book I of The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily reads in the newspaper of Lawrence Selden's voyage to Havana and the West Indies. Lily, heart wrenched and depressed knowing he won't return, is relieved to find an invitation to accompany the Dorsets in the Mediterranean. The setting of Book II on the Riviera is significant in the fact that the outcome of Selden and Lily's reunion is anything but predictable. Having taken into account their growing feelings for the other, I would have thought the reunification of both to be heartfelt and grand. This happens to be quite opposite from the case. I believe Wharton's choice for this transition to a far away setting to symbolize Selden's running away from his past home life and roller coaster relationship with Lily Bart."...if she could be entirely excluded from his life, the pressure of new and varied impressions, with which no thought of her was connected, would soon complete the work of separation,"(Wharton,153). I find it ironic that Selden's running away from Lily and his past ways is halted by Lily's running toward him. The actual encounter of the two at the train platform to me symbolized both Lily Bart and Lawrence Selden starting at the same point, but the train taking them too two different destinations. Or, the train can show the two traveling away from one another, wherever that may be.

Blog 7- Detailed response to a specific line

In Edith Wharton's The House Of Mirth, a line regarding Lily Bart stuck out to me. "She was realising for the first time that a woman's dignity may cost more to keep up than her carriage," (Wharton,138)... This, I believe to be the first time Lily Bart is aware of the greater worth and hardship of a positive view of oneself with respect and dignity for oneself. It is harder to keep one's head up and remain confident in the inside, than to keep up the view of oneself that revolves around material items and how one looks from the outside. Previously, I had been upset with Miss Lily Bart's character values because they differed largely from what is right. Now, I feel Lily pays heed to the mess of a debt to Gus Trenor in which she got herself involved. I believe Miss Bart wants to wash her hands of the matter and start from a clean slate. If this is true, I find that choice to be very admirable. I think that Lily continues on the path to bettering herself. No matter what kind of values and conditions she was raised under, Lily is already starting to defy previous assumptions about her.

Blog 6-Detailed response to a specific scene/my opinion of the work

Readers key into Lily Bart's emotions in chapter 13 of The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton. Previously, Lily Bart has been portrayed as an over dramatic woman who gets in troublesome situations and always contradicts herself. Thus far, I've been slightly irritated with the character of Lily Bart. I find her difficult to relate to and her lack of appreciation frustrating. However, I gained some sympathy for Miss Bart after the encounter and argument with Gus Trenor during Judy's absence. After all that is discussed at this meeting, and having been overflown with truths, Lily is a stranger to herself and cannot think clearly. " 'I can't think- I can't think'... She seemed a stranger to herself, or rather there were two selves in her, the one she had always known, and a new abhorrent being to which it found itself chained," (Wharton,120). I sympathize with Lily who, in such a dark time, feels lonely and confused. I'm shocked at her strong display of feeling at this moment in the book, especially considering her usual careless to other matters of equal importance. For example, her gambling problems, debt, and fortune owed to Gus Trenor. This display of trouble, I believe is the start to Lily's more intuitive look at herself and search for someone to console her in times of despair such as these. 

Blog 5-My own opinion of the work and comparison to a film

Miss Lily Bart in chapter 7 of The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, develops a manipulative relationship with Gus Trenor. Lily, overtaken with desires of wealth and riches and in the predicament of having only some nice things, goes in on a friendship with Mr. Trenor with his money as reward. From early on in the novel, Lily's characteristic qualities of greed, slyness, and self interest have escalated into a deal with Mr. Trenor with money as the motive. Gus Trenor seems willing to satisfy Miss Bart's desire for material objects as long as she can be a pretty face to hang around him. My feelings for this situation thus far is disgust for Lily's easy approach to Mr. Trenor's tremendous generosity. To prove Lily's self absorption, "strengthened her self confidence in the exact degree to which it effaced her debts," (Wharton,69). Gus likes having a sought-after and beautiful woman, just as Lily Bart enjoys the riches he is willing to present her. Seems to me both individuals need a reality check! Someones got their priorities mixed up!

The film Pretty Woman involves a similar scenario. Edward, a successful business man, hires a prostitute who he offers money to if she sticks around with him for some time. Vivian enjoys the rich and famous scene which Edward envelopes her in. Although in The House Of Mirth, Gus Trenor and Lily Bart haven't fell in love like Vivian and Edward, I find the characters and situations from both strikingly similar.

Blog 4- Lily & Selden's Early On Relationship

Towards the end of chapter 5 and into chapter 6 of The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily Bart and Selden deepen their relationship. As the story has developed, I've noticed Miss Bart more conscious of Selden's existence and more appreciative to the fact that he's always been around for her. His following her out to the garden on the path to church show Selden's devotion to Lily and her safety. I believed Miss Bart would be too blind sighted to notice Selden's generosity or even to take him up on the offer to go on an afternoon stroll. I was lead to the assumption that Miss Bart wouldn't let her friendship with Lawrence Selden to deepen because of her earlier regard of him in chapter 5: "...wished that he possessed the other qualities needful to fix her attention;but till now she had been too busy with her own affairs to regard him as more than one of the pleasant accessories of life," (Wharton,43). . Lily's lack of appreciation to those always at her service, show through in her treatment to Selden. To my surprise though, she sits on a rock with Lawrence at her feet, thoughts rushing through her head of her growing feelings for him. "Was it love, she wondered," (Wharton,51)..? And after having spent an entire afternoon in Selden's company, " 'Do you want to marry me,' " (Wharton,58)? Is Lily Bart in love with Lawrence Selden, or in love with the idea of being in love?

Blog 3-Detailed response to a specific line

In chapter 4 of The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily Bart mentions to her cousin and Miss Van Osburgh that, "Each of them wants a creature of a different race," (Wharton,38).. Lily in this statement is regarding Miss Van Osburgh and Percy Gryce's likeness, but the fact that one seems to seek out others different than oneself. This quote by Lily reminded me of the saying, "opposites attract." People tend to desire people who possess the qualities they lack in themselves.Additionally, people like a change of pace and the excitement of another so different from themselves. Since Mr. Gryce and Ms. Osburgh are so alike, the partnership of the two, Lily assumes, will never be.

Aside from this, in chapter 4, Lily Bart's eyes open to the fact that perhaps the world is not as cruel as she'd imagined. "They were not as brutal and self engrossed as she had fancied," (Wharton,39).. Miss Bart's epiphany which was this realization, can be compared to Mr Scrooge's revelation from a bitter old man towards others, to a generous man in A Christmas Carol. Though, Lily didn't go through any trial like Scrooge to have this change of heart, both find out the world isn't half as bad as they had originally thought.

Blog 2- Comparison/Contrast of Related Characters

Lily Bart in The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, closely resembles her mother, Mrs. Bart. Both have expectations of a luxurious lifestyle and the horridness of that which is dingy. "She hated dinginess, and it was her fate to be dingy," (Wharton, 28). Besides this, Lily's often overpowering pride and self interest, along with her mother's assurance that she could always do better, caused a magnitude of missed opportunities and possible fortunes. "The dinginess of her present life threw into enchanting relief the existence to which she felt herself entitled," (Wharton,27). Though Lily and Mrs. Bart shared some of the same characteristics, Mrs. Bart based her opinions of men on the amount of money they receive. Lily Bart, who, although needy and materialistic seems to expect a man to have more to offer than just a large income. "She would not indeed have cared to marry a man who was merely rich: she was secretly ashamed of her mother's crude passion for money," (Wharton, 27). Despite this dissimilarity, Mrs. Bart and her daughter Lily expect false ideals. Like the saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree (like mother, like daughter)."

Blog 1- Analysis of Lily Bart

Edith Wharton in The House of Mirth, portrays main character Lily Bart as idealistic, needy, jealous, and also intuitive to her actions affecting others. Lily sets her standards on an expensive and rich lifestyle which she finds necessary for personal happiness. "I must have a great deal of money,"(Wharton,6). Ms. Bart finds wealth and riches the only source of total satisfaction. Though, Lily Bart seemingly raises herself on a pedestal over other women of her class: "She was too self engrossed," (Wharton,19).. I believe Bart has underlying jealousy for others. "She had lost-she who needed every penny, while Bertha Dorset, whose husband showered money on her, must have pocketed at least five hundred, and Judy Trenor, who could have afforded to lose a thousand a night," (Wharton,21).. Lily hides behind a concealed face of beauty and the look of satisfaction in herself, when in actuality she desires others' fortunes. Although, thus far, Lily Bart seems to possess negative qualities, she is intuitive to her actions and their effects on others. To prove, "Lily was sure that within twenty-four hours the story of her visiting her dress-maker at the Benedick would be in active circulation among Mr. Rosedale's acquaintances," (Wharton, 11-12). Miss Bart recognizes that her white lie to Mr. Rosedale about her business in the Benedick triggered the possible outcome of the truth of her visit being revealed.