The beginning of chapter 11 has three pages of narrations of characters thoughts. This section helps the reader understand more fully what the characters treat as important and valuable. This section also gives the reader a break from the continual conniving conversations in the previous chapters. It is confusing though how fast the book then returns to a conversation between Grace Stepney and Mrs. Peniston about Miss Bart’s previous actions. It explanations why Grace would bring up the topic of Lily and Mr. Trenor but I feel that the author should have wrote more of opening to the conversation.
I find Mrs. Peniston to be a flat character. In the book it says, “It was really pitiable to be as ignorant of the world as Mrs. Peniston” (Wharton 100). This quote and a previous statement in the book show her to pay attention to the niceties of society. She is however ignorant of any disreputable gossip about Miss Bart. Mrs. Peniston’s ignorance of Lily’s social misstates reminds me of my grandparents ignorance when it comes to computers.
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