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A review by mhall
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
4.0
First published in 1905, this tells a sad story about high society in Manhattan. Lily Bart, an aging 29-year-old beauty, is in search of a husband in order to continue in her accustomed luxury. A future of wealth is the only end goal she has ever envisioned, a “life of fastidious aloofness and refinement in which every detail should have the finish of a jewel, and the whole form a harmonious setting to her own jewel-like rareness." She moves among the truly wealthy, accepted for her beauty and grace, but never having the security of money to make her feel permanently at home. She lives by forever accepting the hospitality of her lady friends, accompanying them on vacations and wearing their cast-off dresses, but obligated to serve their wishes in many ways. Lily faces several constraints – she has to keep up her appearance and act as if she is carefree and charming. She has to be extremely careful to maintain a spotless reputation. And so on.
How has Lily, famous for her beauty and social graces, made it to 29 without a husband? Each time she is in a position to accept a proposal, she sabotages herself somehow. Unconsciously, she knows what it means to marry for wealth, and her soul deflects and ducks. The only person who might understand this about Lily is Lawrence Selden, an aristocratic lawyer who has chosen a simple life for himself. Lily and Lawrence sometimes find themselves strolling in gardens or sitting on park benches, having conversations that are honest and real. They are drawn to each other, but Lily’s whole existence has always been aimed like an arrow at Money, not love.
This novel follows a downward trajectory describing the indifference of the wealthy to the plight of others. As Lily strides toward understanding herself and the truth of her constrained situation, she is betrayed by her upper-class friends. She can’t bring herself to fight back. When she considers her options, she sees “…a future of servitude to the whims of others." What can she do? The answer to that is not a happy one, and although beautiful writing describes the imperfect redemption of love, the ending is tragic.
How has Lily, famous for her beauty and social graces, made it to 29 without a husband? Each time she is in a position to accept a proposal, she sabotages herself somehow. Unconsciously, she knows what it means to marry for wealth, and her soul deflects and ducks. The only person who might understand this about Lily is Lawrence Selden, an aristocratic lawyer who has chosen a simple life for himself. Lily and Lawrence sometimes find themselves strolling in gardens or sitting on park benches, having conversations that are honest and real. They are drawn to each other, but Lily’s whole existence has always been aimed like an arrow at Money, not love.
This novel follows a downward trajectory describing the indifference of the wealthy to the plight of others. As Lily strides toward understanding herself and the truth of her constrained situation, she is betrayed by her upper-class friends. She can’t bring herself to fight back. When she considers her options, she sees “…a future of servitude to the whims of others." What can she do? The answer to that is not a happy one, and although beautiful writing describes the imperfect redemption of love, the ending is tragic.