The House of Mirth: Blog 15
Edith Wharton

     As I finish the novel, so many thoughts and questions are going through my mind. First and foremost, I think that even just a few pages before the ending of the story, there was still a bit of foreshadowing. Upon returning home from a walk, Lily begins sorting through her few possessions and paying off all of her debts with her inheritance she has just received. I think Lily knows her life is coming to an end, and she wants to have everything sorted out when it does. I think the final payment of her debts shows she has accomplished all she wanted to in life, and there is nothing left that she needs to do.
     After reflecting on Lily's sudden death due to an over-dose of her sleeping medication, I think Lily knew fully well what she was doing when she took more than the prescribed amount of the medicine. While the book doesn't really say whether or not it was a suicide or an accident, I think Lily committed suicide. She realized all she had after paying her debts was a few dollars and no husband, and I feel she didn't think she had a purpose any longer.
     I find the ending of the book was extremely sad. Selden, who intends on visiting Lily when he learns of her death, finally realizes his true love for Lily. Selden and Gerty Farish sat in the room with Lily's body. They had discussed that it was what she would've wanted. However, Selden is confused when Gerty begins to leave.

"Selden roused himself to detain her. 'But why are you going? She would have wished-' 

Gerty shook her head with a smile. 'No; this is what she would have wished-' and as she spoke a light broke through Selden's stony misery, and he saw deep into the hidden things of love" (Wharton, 264). 

      I find it beautiful that the two finally got to be together. However, because of the horrible circumstances, I find it extremely depressing. I feel that throughout the entire story the two loved each other. I only wish they would have realized their mutual love earlier and Lily's life wouldn't have ended so tragically.


      Overall, I didn't love this book nor did I hate it. One aspect of Wharton's writing I really enjoyed was her use of imagery. Whenever I read a book, I envision in my mind exactly what is happening. Being the daughter of a costumer, I imagine every detail from the setting to the jewelry each character is wearing. I loved how she gave exquisite details of every scene; I always knew exactly what to imagine. 
     One thing I did not enjoy was that I thought the plot was somewhat repetitive. The entire book was about Lily running into financial problems, then running into problems with whom to marry, then worrying about the problems. That simple plot seemed to repeat itself multiple times throughout the entire novel. 
     All in all, I thought the book was alright. While I do not regret reading it, I don't think it is ever something I would choose myself or suggest to anyone. 

The House of Mirth: Blog 14
Edith Wharton

      There seems to be a great deal of foreshadowing in chapters eleven and twelve of The House of Mirth. Lily has been having trouble sleeping lately, I think because of all of her worries. She obtains sleeping medication from a doctor who, during her visit, says, "You don't want to increase the dose, you know... it's a queer acting drug. A drop or two more, and off you go- the doctors don't know why" (Wharton, 234). This makes me believe that, in the few remaining pages of the book, something tragic could happen to Lily. At first, I wondered why he would say this to her. But, as I am writing this, I realize he is a doctor and it is his responsibility to tell her of the potential dangers. Now I am second guessing whether or not this is truly foreshadowing. However, something is telling me something tragic is going to happen. Related to these drugs or not, I have no idea.
     I also learned in these chapters that Lily has been fired from her job. I think this could be foreshadowing because it is cutting Lily more and more out of society. She is slowly becoming less and less noticed in the society, which I think could lead to her social downfall.
     Lastly, I saw some foreshadowing during Lily's meeting with Selden. Lily says,

"There is someone I must say goodbye to. Oh, not you- we are sure to see each other again- but the Lily Bart you knew. I have kept her with me all this time, but now we are going to part, and I have brought her back to you- I am going to leave her here... Will you let her stay with you? (Wharton, 251).

     Even though Lily says she will see Selden again, I don't think she will. So many instances they have gone great periods of  time without seeing each other. I think her leaving the "old" Lily with him is foreshadowing that either she will never see him again and wants to leave part of her with him, or that she loves him but knows their love is not mutual. I am eager to find out what will happen in the few remaining pages of the book.

The House of Mirth: Blog 13
Edith Wharton

     While reading The House of Mirth, I have noticed that while Lily tries to be independent, it is nearly impossible because of her financial state. However, reading chapter nine made me very proud of Lily. She has become an apprentice at a hat-making store. I love that she did this because, by learning a trade, she can eventually have a good enough income to pay off all of her debts and be completely independent. I feel this would make Lily happier, since she currently is worrying daily about her finances. I feel this would also take the pressure of getting married off of her. She won't need to marry solely to have more money.
     Something I have enjoyed thoroughly throughout the novel is Wharton's consistent use of imagery throughout the novel. I feel this helps the reader get a better visual of what is really happening. It also helps the reader to stay interested. Wharton describes Lily's dream of having her own hat boutique in the following passage.

 "And of course only the finishing touches would be expected of her: subordinate fingers, blunt, grey, needle-pricked fingers, would prepare the shapes and stitch the linings, while she presided over the charming little front shop- a shop all while panels, mirrors, and moss-green hangings- where her finished creations, hats, wreaths, aigrettes and the rest, perched on their stands like birds just poising for flight" (Wharton, 229-230).

   I absolutely love the way this is written. The imagery is so delicately laced throughout the passage so that the reader can perfectly imagine the adorable store front.  I love this aspect of Wharton's writing style.

The House of Mirth: Blog 12
Edith Wharton

     In our society, people are constantly complaining that the institution of marriage is being destroyed or certain groups or people are disgracing the sanctity of marriage. For example, Kim Kardashian's famous 72 day marriage was said to "cheapen the institution of marriage." Also, many feel legalizing gay marriage would disgrace the sanctity of marriage. While I could go on for hours as to why I feel these views absolutely ridiculous, that isn't the point. My point is this: why are people all of the sudden worrying about the sanctity of marriage? After finishing chapter nine of book two of The House of Mirth, I have come to a simple conclusion: in the early 1900's, no one's true motivation for getting married was love. Their reasoning to get married was because it was expected of them. Lily, nor any of the men she is involved with at this point, does not care about loving someone. They simply care about being married. So, why, now, in 2012, are people fretting about the "sanctity of marriage?" Less than a hundred years ago, marriage was not a result of two people loving each other, it was simply a contract. Clearly, people have been marrying for the "wrong" reasons for hundreds of years. Even though I feel people were getting married as sort of a contract during the time of this novel, I do like that people minded their own business and did not protest against other's marriages, even if they were not out of love.
     Lily says: "I am ready to marry you whenever you wish" (Wharton, 205). I absolutely loathe everything about this. Lily should be independent. If she knew she and Rosedale were meant to marry, she would not have to be so subordinate to him and marry when he wishes. I also hate that this sounds like such a contract.  Lily does not seem excited and she does not truly want to marry. Marriage should be something to look forward to, not something to dread.
     Clearly, I am very opinionated when it comes to these topics. I simply feel marriage is the business of the two people involved, not of the rest of society. I hate that Lily feels she is forced to marry just because everyone is pushing it upon her.

The House of Mirth: Blog 11
Edith Wharton

     About a third of the way through the second book, I read something that truly got me thinking. While speaking of all the plans other members of society had for themselves, Wharton says "...Lily herself remained without plan or purpose" (Wharton, 190). Even though it seems Wharton is really only discussing where Lily will reside and how she will handle her financial troubles, I feel this quote really sums up Lily's current situation. It isn't that I feel Lily has absolutely no purpose in life; everyone has something to put forth. However, Lily does not know her purpose. She has no plans when it comes to marriage, where she will live, her finances, her friendships. Nothing is mapped out for her. I also feel she also does not have any set destination in life. Throughout the entire book, Lily hasn't had a real plan for anything. And, after 200 pages, she still has nothing. I thought that at this point in the book there would be some sort of new adventure, such as getting married or solving her finance problems. But things are still the same. Over the course of the novel she has lived spontaneously, going from friendship to friendship, one crazy idea to the next. She has been from not wanting to get married to wanting just the opposite, and back and forth a hundred times. I honestly respect Lily for this. I love the spontaneity of her life. She seems to pick up and go places, such as Europe or Alaska, with no thoughts of what she should be doing or what could happen while she is gone. I love that she has nothing tying her down to New York. While I'm only sixteen and honestly have no idea of what will become of my future, I hope that, maybe just for a few years, it is somewhat like Lily's. Even though I know it could never happen, the idea of not having any obligations amazes me. To be able to do whatever I want at any given moment sounds absolutely thrilling.
     After re-reading those past few sentences, they sound like such a sixteen-year-old thing to say. But, if the shoe fits...

     Lily's pick-up-and-go attitude relates a lot to my life. Just yesterday, my dad was saying that after this school year we should move to Carmel, Indiana. He said this because after I graduate, we will have nothing keeping us on the south side. My dad, also a very spontaneous man, loves the idea of having a new adventure, even if that means only an hour from our current abode. I, personally, am ecstatic about the idea.

The House of Mirth: Blog 10
Edith Wharton

     In chapters three and four of book two, lots of drama ensues. Bertha, who I've mentioned my hatred for many times, will not allow Lily to return to their cruise. I'm not sure how she can simply leave someone in Europe stranded, but only Bertha would find a way to do that. I honestly have no idea how Lily gets back. Selden takes her to the Stepney's but I really don't know what happened to her from there.
     Chapter four reveals the death of Mrs. Peniston. Lily does not seem overly distraught about the death, which I find concerning since I don't think Lily has anywhere else to live. I can't decide if Lily is angry or content at what Mrs. Peniston left her in the will. Lily only received $10,000, which is shocking to everyone since she was expected to inherit the house as well. Lily seems extremely upset that she did not get the house. I don't know how she will afford to live alone or with whom she will live. It is not clear to me where she is currently residing. On the other hand, she seems overjoyed that she will be able to pay off the $9,000 she owes to Trenor.
     I really don't like that the will of Mrs. Peniston is of more concern to her friends and family than her actual death. No one really talks about their feelings or expresses their sorrow over the matter. It seems they are all much more worried about who will receive what and why.
     This seems very similar to how many feel about losses today. People become so caught up in worrying about the will and hoping they will get everything they want that they often forget about the celebration of life that should be taking place. Like many other things in our society, this truly needs to change.

The House of Mirth: Blog 9
Edith Wharton

     As I begin Book two of The House of Mirth, the setting changes to being in Europe while Lily joins the Dorsets on a cruise around the Mediterranean. I think this is the same cruise Selden is on, or they simply happen to run into each other at some point on their travels. This isn't really clear to me.
     It is apparent from the beginning of the second book that infidelity will continue to be a prominent theme. I quickly learned that the only reason Bertha invited Lily on the cruise is so Lily would distract Bertha's husband, George, from Bertha having an affair with Ned Silverton. I know that sounds ridiculously confusing, but that also seems to be a recurring theme throughout the novel.
     The infidelity and lies infuriates me. I don't understand why Bertha would basically encourage an affair between Lily and George so she could have an affair. If she knows they are both having affairs, why doesn't she simply get a divorce? I know this is the early 1900's and divorces were looked down upon much more than they are now, but everyone's behavior right now in the novel is absolutely ridiculous.
    Well, George realizes that and decides to go to Selden to get a divorce. Lily opposes this at first, but all of the sudden she is ok with it. I didn't really understand why she had such a quick change of heart.
     Bertha, who I am really beginning to loathe, seems to have started rumors that Lily and George are having an affair. This seems like yet another absurd move on her part. I know I wouldn't want people thinking my husband were having an affair. Obviously it looks bad on his part, but I think it reflects poorly on her as well.
     As I've made obvious throughout multiple blogs, I really loathe infidelity. Because of this, I absolutely can not stand Bertha's character. While I realize she is not the only one committing this sin, she seems to me to be the trickiest and sliest in her ways. I hope she gets caught cheating before the rumors spread of George and Lily being together.

The House of Mirth: Blog 8
Edith Wharton

     After finishing book one of The House of Mirth, it is still not know who Lily will ultimately marry. Currently, three men seem to be in the running. These men are Trenor, Selden, and Rosedale. Each man comes with quite a bit of baggage and reasons for Lily not to marry him.
     The first man Lily has a run-in with is Mr. Trenor. He tricks Lily into seeing him alone and becomes very angry with her when she does not want to stay. I think the main reasons of him wanting to talk to Lily is to remind her of the money she supposedly owes him and to express his disgust at the idea of Lily and Selden being together. I don't think she owes him anything because he agreed to help her. Also, Lily and Selden are not together, it is only a rumor.
     The second man, whom she never actually gets to see in these three chapters, is Selden. Selden wrote Lily wanting to meet the next day. She told him she would meet him at four but added "I can easily put him off when tomorrow comes" (Wharton, 113). I don't understand why she keeps wanting to put him off. I think, at this point, she hasn't realized her love for him still. Later in these chapters, when Selden doesn't come and she finds he has sailed off for Havana and the West Indies, she realizes she does truly love him.
     Lastly, is Rosedale. When Lily was anxiously awaiting the arrival of Selden, Rosedale showed up instead. In a seemingly creepy way, he asked her to marry him saying "I've got the money, and what I want is the woman- and I mean to have her too" (Wharton, 143). Lily knows she does not want to marry him so she tells him that she needs time to think. Later, when she finds out Selden is never coming, I think, for a minute, she wanted to take Rosedale up on the offer. She began to write him but couldn't find the words she wanted to say.
     As the first book finishes, Lily is left with three men. The first being a married man who seems to want to control Lily. The second being a middle class man who knows money is not the most important possession. And the third being a wealthy man who simply wants a woman to take care of. As I've said before, I have been rooting for Selden the entire time. He seems sweet and I loved that in these three chapters Wharton tells us of his humble upbringings. He was brought up learning that one can live on just a little amount of money quite comfortably. I love that about him and he seems to be sweet, not pushy like the other two men. With him having sailed off, I'm not sure if he will ever return and win Lily's hand.