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.