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.