“Lily remembered Nettie’s words I knew he knew about me” (Wharton 260). In the last three chapters Lily finally finds herself but it is already too late to save herself. The end of the book gets more mournful and gloomy. This setting fits the ending. I actually got a sense that she might die early before it happened. After you discover how demoralized Lily is she then manages to do the morally right thing in the end. In the second to last chapter you are introduced to Nettie Struther. This reminds the reader that Lily has accomplished good things in her life. This visit also gives the reader hope that Lily will be able to attain happiness finally. Lily does find happiness but is too tired to realize what she has found and dies before she can truly attain it.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The House of Mirth / Edith Wharton / (book 2) Ch 10 & 11
“‘that’s all right it’s a queer-acting drug. A drop or two more, and off you go-the doctors don’t know why’” (Wharton 234). With this comment Edith Wharton shows how much medicine Lily is taking to fall to sleep. This also shows how unhappy and worried she has become. Lily has been forced to work in a hat shop living a dull life. This she hates and tries to fight even when she is poor by trying to live in as nice of a hotel she can afford. I found a motif in the book continued mention of Greek myth and the furies.
The House of Mirth / Edith Wharton / (book 2) Ch 8 & 9
In chapter eight the imagery of a fight is used again. “Her superior gifts would make it easy for her to dominate her adversary” (Wharton 212). The use of the word adversary makes it seam like a life or death struggle. In the story it may seem like a life or death struggle to Miss Bart but I find it slightly amusing to picture it as a fight. I also find it interesting that Lily’s avenues of returning to a luxurious life are so few but she still cannot choose a path to take and stick to. I find it sad that even when she is so low her pride still blinds her to Selden love.
The House of Mirth / Edith Wharton / (book 2) Ch 6 & 7
In chapter 6 the relation ship between Mr. Dorset and Miss Bart is explained more deeply. “‘I Am still more sorry for you, then’, she interposed without irony; ‘but you must see that I am not exactly the person with whom the subject can be discussed’” (Wharton 196). Mr. Dorset still wishes to be friends and could easily become more if Lily asked him to do so. She however shows a moral fortitude in averting him away from this action. She also helps to protect him by suggesting strongly that they cannot be friends. Carry Fisher continues to be a single tether to Miss Bart’s old life. Carry Fisher also continues to advise Miss Bart in was in which she could stop Mrs. Dorset’s assault on her life.
The House of Mirth / Edith Wharton / (book 2) Ch 4 & 5
“And the residue of my estate to my dear cousin and name-sake, Grace Julia Stepney” (Wharton 180). This line of Mrs. Peniston’s will shows her to be a flat character. She seams to be to her death only interested in the joyous gossip of the rich and their parties. When it comes to the scandalous side of the rich she ignores it. She seams to believe that it only happens in history or books. This aversion to immorality is shown by her when she disinherits Miss Bart. After her disinheritance Lily is helped by Carry Fisher and Gerty to deal with this situation. Carry Fisher introduces lily to another group of people more excepting of people and she suggest people she could marry to relieve herself of her financial burdens.
The House of Mirth / Edith Wharton / (book 2) Ch 2 & 3
In chapter two Lily is in a position which should be a relaxing vacation. This is shown to be a false hope or a childish dream. Mrs. Dorset continues to be an antagonist to Miss Bart. Her role as an opponent of Miss Bart’s grows and she becomes a larger influence in Lily’s life. “A chill of fear passed over Miss Bart: a sense of remembered treachery that was like the gleam of a knife in the dusk” (Wharton 168). In this sentence I like the imagery of the gleaming knife. This image refers back to previous acts of Mrs. Dorset which caused Lily to lose a chance at marrying Mr. Percy Gryce. In chapter three Selden is shown to have a continued interest in helping to protect Miss Bart. He is called to help the Dorset ’s with their troubled marriage.
The House of Mirth / Edith Wharton / Ch 15 & (book 2) Ch 1
“She saw her evening-dress and opera-cloak lying in a tawdry heap on a chair” (Wharton 136). This line shows Lily’s continued revulsion to dullness and ugliness. This is a suggestion though that this may be a continuance in her future. It also represent he fall from the riches standards. The use of the word tawdry in the sentence still represents her will to bring herself out of dullness. It is an effective use of diction by Edith Wharton. It represents the vernacular of the cultured class. It also shows how ingrained in Lily the mannerisms of the high class have been driven that even in such a depressed state she still acts regal.
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