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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
On one hand, I’m irritated with the plot, for punishing a woman for her sexuality, as in The Scarlet Letter or Anna Karenina, and in this case, punishing her for something society thought she had done, but she had not.
On the other hand, I’m dazzled by the character arc. As Lily contends with those suspicions she plummets gradually from society’s shining peaks into an abyss of poverty, until she is unemployed and doesn’t know how she will afford to live in the tenement that is so far below her supposed station.
Lily’s growing awareness shows that earlier narrated attitudes on class and race were the character’s attitudes, and not the author’s, so that’s a relief. Lily learns to respect a poor woman and a wealthy Jew, despite her previous attitudes toward those people.
Further, Lily’s inner dialogue becomes richer, more aware, as she grows in understanding even as she loses in financial, and thus societal, standing. (For her real sin is not the supposed romantic alliance with a married man, or even her having taken money from him, but the sin of becoming impoverished, for which society could not forgive her.)
Lily loses prejudices and pretenses, like a turn-of-the-20th-century Inanna, shedding possessions and stature as she falls down and down, layer by layer of hell. For Lily, her fall is a purgatory experience, purging her of faults as she becomes more aware of them.
The novel’s happy ending within a tragic one, is that by the time of her death, Lily has realized the value of real regard, and felt it grow into honest love. Alongside that tender point, her honesty in general has grown so that her self-awareness has made her more broadly a better person.
There’s a fairytale element, in that a person she helped along the way turns up later to help her out in turn, and this being a Magical Other, is problematic to my turn-of-the-21st-century sensibility. The noble family in poverty, demonstrating the beauty of love in a cottage, is a bit treacle-stained, even in Wharton’s deft hands.
The author does note that the little family is surviving on the edge and could be destroyed by the least mishap, but still, their love is transcendent, and stands as an example for the fallen Lily who turned out to be too delicate, too frail, in short, too aristocratic to support herself by menial labor, though she gave it a good go.
Today’s reader might also be annoyed by the implication that Lily has, at her bitter end, come to understand the sweetness of love and family *As A Career Choice*. Of course being a partner and a parent can be fulfilling for anyone, but when those are held up as The Answer, we end up with the narrow options of the 20th-century woman, all over again.
We had glimpses of what Lily might have been, as a wealthy society matron, had she only achieved her initial goal of marriage for money. She had an inclination toward philanthropy that could have been more fully realized, had she not become impoverished.
It’s sad though—and alright, the novel was published in 1905 so I can’t fault it for being a relic of its time but it’s sad—that we never had a glimpse of what Lily might have been as a determined working woman, using her considerable talents and connections in some way that would provide for her, so that she could live an independent life like Gerty Farish, once scorned but now admired.
So I would rewrite the novel’s moral if I could, but not its social satire or comedy of manners. The novel’s demerits are only due to its era, when a fallen woman must be punished, and a version written today as a period “historical novel,” and not a novel written in another era, would, while correcting those flaws, be less accurate.
Meanwhile, the novel’s merits make me astonished that I never read Wharton before, and how did I not? How was I never introduced to her? Based on House of Mirth I would say that for social satire and comedy of manners, she stands firmly alongside Jane Austen, although one century closer to ourselves.
On the other hand, I’m dazzled by the character arc. As Lily contends with those suspicions she plummets gradually from society’s shining peaks into an abyss of poverty, until she is unemployed and doesn’t know how she will afford to live in the tenement that is so far below her supposed station.
Lily’s growing awareness shows that earlier narrated attitudes on class and race were the character’s attitudes, and not the author’s, so that’s a relief. Lily learns to respect a poor woman and a wealthy Jew, despite her previous attitudes toward those people.
Further, Lily’s inner dialogue becomes richer, more aware, as she grows in understanding even as she loses in financial, and thus societal, standing. (For her real sin is not the supposed romantic alliance with a married man, or even her having taken money from him, but the sin of becoming impoverished, for which society could not forgive her.)
Lily loses prejudices and pretenses, like a turn-of-the-20th-century Inanna, shedding possessions and stature as she falls down and down, layer by layer of hell. For Lily, her fall is a purgatory experience, purging her of faults as she becomes more aware of them.
The novel’s happy ending within a tragic one, is that by the time of her death, Lily has realized the value of real regard, and felt it grow into honest love. Alongside that tender point, her honesty in general has grown so that her self-awareness has made her more broadly a better person.
There’s a fairytale element, in that a person she helped along the way turns up later to help her out in turn, and this being a Magical Other, is problematic to my turn-of-the-21st-century sensibility. The noble family in poverty, demonstrating the beauty of love in a cottage, is a bit treacle-stained, even in Wharton’s deft hands.
The author does note that the little family is surviving on the edge and could be destroyed by the least mishap, but still, their love is transcendent, and stands as an example for the fallen Lily who turned out to be too delicate, too frail, in short, too aristocratic to support herself by menial labor, though she gave it a good go.
Today’s reader might also be annoyed by the implication that Lily has, at her bitter end, come to understand the sweetness of love and family *As A Career Choice*. Of course being a partner and a parent can be fulfilling for anyone, but when those are held up as The Answer, we end up with the narrow options of the 20th-century woman, all over again.
We had glimpses of what Lily might have been, as a wealthy society matron, had she only achieved her initial goal of marriage for money. She had an inclination toward philanthropy that could have been more fully realized, had she not become impoverished.
It’s sad though—and alright, the novel was published in 1905 so I can’t fault it for being a relic of its time but it’s sad—that we never had a glimpse of what Lily might have been as a determined working woman, using her considerable talents and connections in some way that would provide for her, so that she could live an independent life like Gerty Farish, once scorned but now admired.
So I would rewrite the novel’s moral if I could, but not its social satire or comedy of manners. The novel’s demerits are only due to its era, when a fallen woman must be punished, and a version written today as a period “historical novel,” and not a novel written in another era, would, while correcting those flaws, be less accurate.
Meanwhile, the novel’s merits make me astonished that I never read Wharton before, and how did I not? How was I never introduced to her? Based on House of Mirth I would say that for social satire and comedy of manners, she stands firmly alongside Jane Austen, although one century closer to ourselves.
3.5 stars. I actually really liked this one until they went to the Mediterranean, and then everything became ridiculous and sad and unnecessary.
Frustrating in a way only a tragedy can be, one that seems petty and easily solved yet prolonged mercilessly by Wharton's need to bestow the tiresomely human attributes of cowardice and a desire for material luxury. BUT by the end I was definitely moved by the solitary complacency of Lily and the futility of everything she was forced to endure at the hands of a cruel and indifferent society. STILL FRUSTRATING THOUGH!!!
This is a really great read. Of course it was assigned for an American Lit class, but as a non-traditional student at the time, there were many things that I could relate to in the main character, Lily. Themes are social class and gender.
3.5 but rounding up. Sometimes I could really feel the difference reading something first published in 1905. Other times it felt very modern and cutting.
Loved this book. Wharton was the first female Pulitzer Prize winner for a reason. This reads like a sassy, contemporary dramedy but in turn-of-the-20th-century language. I felt the conflicting helplessness and ambition that drove the protagonist forward, both easily floating along and also rapt with tension the whole time. A testament to read more classics!
Strong 4.5. So gorgeously written although pretty dense. This is one of those books that reminds me that literature is such an astute and interesting form of historical analysis. Thank you very much @eva for gifting me this book and telling me to read it!! :)))
When Edith Wharton titles a novel The House of Mirth, expect relentless great tragedy. This book delivers.
Maybe one of my favorite books! (Only four stars because I would have given her story a different ending.)
I was nervous to read a “classic” because it reminded me of reading some awful book during my summer vacation. However, this story was easy to follow, juicy, and so well thought out. The details are what makes this book unique. The author does an amazing job painting a picture.
I see that there is a movie version of this and I will be sat! If you’re into a period piece and want to challenge yourself a little, definitely give this book a shot!
I was nervous to read a “classic” because it reminded me of reading some awful book during my summer vacation. However, this story was easy to follow, juicy, and so well thought out. The details are what makes this book unique. The author does an amazing job painting a picture.
I see that there is a movie version of this and I will be sat! If you’re into a period piece and want to challenge yourself a little, definitely give this book a shot!