The House of Mirth: Book 2 Chapter 10

In this almost-concluding part of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily has sunk to her all-time low. Lily was now working as a hat-maker and there were no social class distinctions. As she mentioned, "There was no desire that they should recognise any social difference in her; but she had hoped to be received as their equal, and perhaps before long show herself their superior by a special deftness of touch..." (Wharton, 231). Although she was at her lowest, this statement shows that Lily was still determined to fight her way up the social ladder. Although we all know that it would be hard to do so after everything she went through, Lily was determined to at least be the top in her workplace. The only problem was that Lily was awful at what she did. She couldn't even sew spangles on a hat frame. I am guessing that after two months of working there, you would at least know how to do that right? Just kidding, because I have no idea what that is and it is probably really hard. Poor Lily again. Sinking down to the very very bottom. Will anything good happen to her at all?

The House of Mirth: Book 2 Chapter 8

In this part of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, I realized what a good moral person Gerty Ferish is. Even after all of the stupid things that Lily has done, Gerty has always been there to support her and help her out. In this particular chapter after talking to Lily and seeing how sick and not well she is, she tells her truthfully. If you recall, in chapter one Lily told Seldon that she had always wanted a friend who would tell her unpleasant things once in a while. Gerty was telling Lily how sick and tired she looked all the time and although Lily took it as an offense, it was what Lily wanted in the beginning (a true friend). Gerty was able to talk to Selden and tell him that it would be best if he helped Lily. He was the only one that could help her, she said. Gerty was trying to be a good friend even if Lily did not approve of what she was doing. Lily was better off with friends like her than with Bertha Dorset. That lady is evil! Gerty was nothing like Bertha and it made me feel content to know that someone was actually looking out for poor old Lily. You go Gerty!

The House Of Mirth: Book 2 Chapter 6

In this chapter of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, I decided that Lily is plain stupid. Sorry, but it is true! Why would she not want to help George with his marriage? He did nothing to her! She is being mean to him when she should be trying to ruin Mrs. Dorset's life! AGH! Lily is such a strange woman. Why would she not want to help him and help herself? She would rid herself of the rumors as well. Bertha is a horrible person anyways. I don't want to sound awful, but she is! I REALLY don't like this chapter Mr. Costello. Sorry. I had to blog about it though, And show you how upset this made me. She's annoying me at this point. I hope to see something happen here, a little action on her part would be nice.

The House of Mirth: Book 2 Chapter 4

In this section of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Mrs. Peniston has died, and everyone has gathered to hear the reading of her will. Everyone assumes that it is to be left to Lily. Mrs. Peniston, having heard of Lily's scandalous affair with George, leaves only ten thousand dollars to her, and the rest to Grace Stepney. Grace became rich and Lily was left with enough to pay Gus. What I find interesting still, is that Lily still does not blame Bertha Dorset for anything. Lily decides that it is her rotten luck as to why everything that has happened to her has been the way it has been. I find it disbelieving how Lily could think that after all that Mrs. Dorset had done to her. She was cruel and awful and Lily still blamed it on herself. It comes to show how much Lily changed throughout the book and how her humbleness went from 0 to 100. I believe that it wasn't the best way to change because of the cruelty, but it certainly taught Lily a lesson. I just do not know what else to expect after all of the things that have happened to poor Lily. I hope that she decides that her and Seldon are meant for each other. She will be better off with him and she will at least be happy, money or no money. 

The House of Mirth: Book 2 Chapter 14

In the final chapter of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily has died. Selden is ready to tell Lily that he does love her, but it is too late. Lily will never be able to hear those words again. Selden found all of Lily's truths and he was happy that she was rid of all her debts. She wrote a check to Gus for the nine thousand she owed him and although she was left without money, she had no more weight on her for her to die. She was free of everything. It still makes me upset how dumb she was in letting Bertha take advantage of her. I hate how she let Bertha treat her and how dumb she was with the decisions she made with Selden. She lived a life that she never wanted because she was afraid to let go of what she had or what she could have. She was just like her mother, too proud. I liked the way it ended though, because it was not a happy ending like every love story. Not that I don't like happy endings. Oh Lily, your cowardliness took you to ruins. Poor Selden, too. What will be of him now? Ah...love stories.

The House of Mirth: Book 2 Chapter 12

Almost to the end of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily decides to apologize to Selden. This is absolutely so sad. Lily and Selden love eachother but Lily's choices made it impossible for Selden to respond. She chose to do something with her life that he told her not to. She was scared to lose the luxury and money to be with someone who could not give her such a thing. Even though she tried to live this life, it failed miserably and she was worse off than if she would have married him in the first place. Lily has grown skinny and alone. Lily has decided to leave everything behind and start as a new Lily. Even though she says this, she knows that Selden will always be a part of her and will never be able to leave what they had behind. Lily will probably never see Selden again. In what I think is their final scene, Lily "went up to him and laid her hands on his shoulders. ""Goodbye,"" she said, and as he bent over her she touche his forehead with her lips" (Wharton, 252).

The House of Mirth: Book 2 Chapter 1

As the second book begins in The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily and Seldon are now both in Europe. Selden for business and Lily is on the cruise with the Dorsets. I believe this is fate. Seldon and Lily always end up together. Seldon has tried to go on this trip without thinking about her and when he finds out that Lily is where he is, he realized that he really does love her. Seldon felt " the latent ache, and realised that after all he had not come off unhurt" (Wharton, 150). This shows that Seldon felt a comprehension of his feelings for Lily. Although this is true, Seldon finds that Lily "was on the edge of something...on the brinks of chasm..." (Wharton, 155). Whatever that means, Seldon sees that Lily is not doing so hot. Maybe she needs him or maybe something if going to happen to her. I do not know, but Lily does need help with finding new friends who do not betray her all the time.

The House of Mirth: Book 1 Chapter 15

To conclude Book 1 of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily has had terrible luck and now her aunt has kicked her out. What else could go wrong? Lily had been hoping that her aunt would be nice enough to help her deal with the money she owed to Gus but her aunt replies with "...beyond that I recognize no obligation to assume your debts" (Wharton 140). Lily has lied to her aunt at this point telling her that her debts are not of her dressmaker like her aunt insinuates, but of playing cards. Her aunt feels ashamed of Lily and sees no reason to help her. I believe that it was cruel of her aunt to not want to help her but I also see where she is coming from. It is not any one's fault but Lily's own because she chose to get easy money by Mr. Trenor. I feel sad for Lily because of her bad luck, but I will always believe things happen for a reason and Lily's attitude towards money and luxury had to be changed somehow. In this case, it was cruel but Lily will learn her lesson. I just hope that Lily finds a way to pay all her debts. Poor girl.

The House of Mirth: Book 1 Chapter 13

I was right! In this portion of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily find out what Trenor really wanted. Sex. Of course a man like him would want to use her money as an excuse. Lily is terrified that Trenor would do such a thing. On the other hand, I sensed that this was going to happen. Lily was being way too kind to a man who was looking for "new meat". It makes me sad to know that there are still men like that. People like Trenor get nowhere in life. They are always wanting to advance in life by being wrong-doers and taking advantage of others. Trenor even went as far as to lie to her about Mrs. Trenor, her best friend, being there. How could a man want to take advantage of his wife's best friend? It sickens me to think that Trenor invented all of the stock market shenanigans, gave her money, only to get her to do what he wanted. Lily was stupid to believe that she would be getting money so easily.

The House of Mirth: Book 1 Chapter 12

During this part of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily has decided to keep peace with Mrs. Dorset. Mr. Dorset has invited Lily to go on a cruise with himself and Mrs. Dorset and Ned Silverston. At this point of the story I do not understand why Lily would want to befriend Mrs Dorset. Mrs. Dorset had an affair with Selden and ruined her chance with Percy Gryce. Lily had "dirt on Mrs. Dorset and was not even thinking to attempt to screw her over. Lily thought, "The enmity, however, had apparently expired in a renewal of friendliness between the two women" (Wharton , 104). This comes to show that Lily had forgiven Mrs. Dorset. In a way I admire her maturity, she was able to be the bigger person and forget everything. Mrs. Dorset has yet to find a way to ruin Lily again. I think she will find a way to do so and Lily will be sorry that she ever thought of them as friends. Mrs. Dorset has had the awful courage to have no fidelity towards her husband when she committed adultery with Selden. I think Ned Silverston will be next on her list of affairs.

The House Of Mirth: Book 1 Chapter 9

In this portion of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily has came back from her cousin's wedding and has learned about Percy's engagement with Evie Van Osburgh. I feel that this was a good turning point in the story because Lily would be better off living a life of happiness and well-being with Selden than living a lie with Mr. Gryce. Lily is now at her aunt's house when a sudden visitor arrives asking for Ms. Bart. Lily comes to the door and realizes it is the charwoman who was at Selden's house in New York when she was waiting for her train (chapter 1). Lily is confused as to why she is there and soon learns that she has come to sell her some letters she has found to Mr. Selden from Mrs. Dorset. It tells of their affairs and she buys them off of the charwoman. Since the charwoman thought Lily was the author of the letters, I see it suitable that "Lily throbbed with fear..." (Wharton, 86). I get a sense of fear due to the fact that Lily was thought to be the author of the letters. This would be information the charwoman could use on Lily, even if Lily was not the author. Lily never told the charwoman, but Lily was more intent on the "dirt" she had on Mrs. Dorset. Lily hides the letters for a future time when she thinks she will need them.

The House of Mirth: Book 1 Chapter 7

At this point in The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Mrs. Trenor berates Lily for being completely flaky and indecisive. Because Lily took Selden away from Bertha, Bertha retaliated and turned Percy against Lily by giving him all the dirt on her. She told him how Lily gambles, smokes, and doesn't go to church. Percy runs away from Lily and Lily realizes she is now alone. After her talk with Selden about success, she realized that Selden has his priorities in the order that she wishes to have hers. Even with this reality check, Lily decides to listen to Mr. Trenor's offer of using her money in the stock market to make her wealthier. She is preoccupied with finding ways to make money instead of listening to her inner-self. Lily does not know what to do with herself at this point and it could mean consequences. I find it a little fishy that Trenor is taking her money and miraculously converting it to more wealth. It may have to do with the fact that he is using the stock market but in all honesty, I am naive as to how it works. 

The House of Mirth: Chapter 4

Continuing with The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, it seems more obvious that Lily is in it for the money. Although her instincts say she has feelings for Lawrence Selden, she is more interested in Percy Gryce who has the money and dullness that she wants in order to live a life of luxury. Lily's friend, Mrs. Trenor, seems to be in accordance with Lily's choice of Percy. She wants Lily to be able to live a life of luxury like herself. Lily is also a bit uncomfortable with the idea that Selden will be coming to Bellomont, most likely because she has realized she has feelings for a non-wealthy person. Mrs. Trenor mentions Percy's  income and tells Lily not to wear her "scarlet crepe-de-Chine for dinner" and not to "smoke if you can help it, Lily dear!" (Wharton, 36). Mrs. Trenor wanted Lily to be her best in order to attract Percy and her advice was to not smoke or dress sexy. Mrs. Trenor wantes Lily to impress Percy so that she could hit off well with him.

The House of Mirth: Book 1 Chapter 3

As The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton continues, we learn that Lily's mannerism of caring so much for money is due to her mother, Mrs. Bart. Lily even admits that, "she was secretly ashamed of her mother's crude passion for money" (Wharton, 27). Growing up, Lily was able to live a life of well-being; she needed nothing more, nothing less. Her father became bankrupt right before his death and left Lily and her mother to live in poverty. Lily's mother, though, "died of a deep disgust" (Wharton, 28). Her mother hated the life they were living and she was better off dead than living in simplicity. After Lily's mother's death, Lily was left money-less to live by herself. She had no choice than to live off of her aunt and do what she could, but she would continue complaining and act as if she had the money to do so. She owed her dress-maker and was in debt for gambling (even if she knew she did not have the money to do so...). Lily was living her poverty life, in a not-so-humble kind of way.

The House of Mirth: Book 1 Chapter 1

Beauty is an essential feature that all women want to bear as part of their characteristics. It is a feature that our main character, Lily Bart, possesses triumphantly. While the first part of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton unfolds, Lily's beauty is emphasized, revealing to us that her beauty is going to be an important part of the story. "One or two persons, in brushing past them, lingered to look; for Miss Bart was a figure to arrest even the suburban traveller rushing to his last train" (Wharton, 1). Lily was able to attract the attention of many men. Lily also had the internal beauty of being able to speak well and intelligently to others. She had a great way of speaking to others and letting others hear what they wanted. Lily was a beautiful girl that had beautiful manners but these would be ruined with her famish for money and luxury. As we know it, Lily was a poor girl living with her rich aunt. Her parents had lost everything before dying and her desire for money was ugly. She was willing to marry a dull, boring man for wanting to possess his money. Lily would be in great need of someone to help her be a beautiful woman, without her ugly wishes.