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.