Summary: The House of Mirth is a 1905 novel by the American author Edith Wharton. It tells the story of Lily Bart, a well-born but impoverished woman belonging to New York City’s high society around the turn of the last century. Wharton creates a portrait of a stunning beauty who, though raised and educated to marry well both socially and economically, is reaching her 29th year, an age when her youthful blush is drawing to a close and her marital prospects are becoming ever more limited. The House of Mirth traces Lily’s slow two-year social descent from privilege to a tragically lonely existence on the margins of society. In the words of one scholar, Wharton uses Lily as an attack on “an irresponsible, grasping and morally corrupt upper class.”
Societies pressures (post 1) Though The House of Mirth takes place in the 20th century I find that not much has changed within our society today. Most men are still oblivious to the world around them, let alone their own feelings, and toxic masculinity is still a stereotype that men try to uphold. For women, at that time, they were expected to uphold the morals and values that were taught to them, especially those of the upper class. Women were seen as their husbands property. Even though most of them were intelligent and had working brains, it was a disgrace to go outside of their social norms. As I was reading, I found myself relating and sympathizing with Lily. She longs for a life outside of her own. One that goes beyond the materialistic but she feels that it is her duty to uphold the values of high society.
Lily is a complex and confusing character. More often than not I wanted to shake her so that she could make her mind up. It seemed like the whole book was lily stuck in her own mind going back and forth between what was in fact unobtainable and what she convinced herself was not. On page 9 (of the kindle edition) it says “She was so evidently the victim of the civilization which had produced her, that the links of her bracelet seemed like manacles chaining her to her fate.” This prompt the question, was lily a victim of the quote on quote “civilization that produced her” or simply a victim of her own self sabotage? Gerty, Seldon’s cousin, lives the life that Lily dreams of.
One without marriage, her own independence, and as she claims “can move the furniture however she likes” pphhheww what a blessing that would be. We can see how the simple things in life such as arranging furniture appeals way more to Lily than anything money can buy but the social pressure of society constantly sways her frame of mind. Due to the constant pressure, she feels she is unable to decipher if the life she longs of, is one she should even fight for .
Boba Gal Books 