The House of Mirth: Blog 7
Edith Wharton

    Shortly after the new year, a new family, the Brys, decide to have a party in order to pronounce themselves in society. Carry Fisher organizes the party and makes it a fashion show which includes "ableaux ivante" which is when actors wear costumes and recreate famous paintings and pictures. Many of the party-goers absolutely love Lily and speak of how beautiful she is. It seems like this kind of goes to Lily's head and makes her a bit arrogant, but I can't really tell.

    I find the the scene Wharton describes of the ableaux ivante absolutely fascinating. I think it would be amazing to attend a party such as this. Once, While visiting Chicago, I saw a group of about ten people all dressed from head to toe in silver clothing and even silver body paint. They would pose for about 30 seconds and then all frantically run around and somehow get into another choreographed pose. It was absolutely beautiful. I think I may have appreciated the show more because I dance, and I understand how hard it is to choreograph even the seemingly spontaneous pose changes. As I read the pages about the fashion show, I could not refrain from imagining these people.

   Getting back to the novel, it seems as though a chapter can't go by without some discussion of the men in Lily's life. In this chapter, Lily seems to deal the most with Selden. Then even have an intimate moment after the party. However, much to my dismay, Lily seems to be somewhat rude to him. She says, "Ah, love me, love me- but don't tell me so!" (Wharton, 112). I hope this does not mean the two of them will never be together, because I still think they are more meant to be than the other vain relationships she seems to have.