The House of Mirth- Book Two

Chapter Seven

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

Like Selden in the first book, Mr. Rosedale enters Lily's story at a time and with an influence powerful enough to twist her future and the direction of the book. As Lily becomes more desperately in need of financial assistance and social stability, Mrs. Fisher and Gerty Farish work to convince Lily to marry before it is too late and to ensure her happiness in life. Lily accepts this truth and works towards strengthening her  favor of Mr. Rosedale, but finds that he is similar to her in his desire to build social power and independence.  This need, so similar to hers, keeps him from taking her in marriage and challenges Lily as he questions her and her direction in life saying, "Do you say so, Miss Lily (Wharton, Page 210)." This simple six word quote forces Lily to reconsider her choice to protect the dignity of her friends despite their betrayal and challenges her every moral and value. With six words, Mr. Rosedale promises Lily that within six months she could have everything she dreamed of: marriage, happiness, social prominence, power. Yet Lily knows that within six months, she could lose every ounce of self-respect which she had purposefully protected by enduring the suffering of misunderstanding. From initially appearing as a nuisance in the first book, to acting as an aid in the efforts to relieve Lily of her misery in the second, Rosedales character becomes of major importance in guiding Lily's actions.  

Chapter Six

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

Style is a characteristic and aspect of writing that distinguishes one writer from another. From the diction and vocabulary usage to the composition of words and flow of paragraphs, little changes and qualities of writing can greatly affect the outcome of the story and the readers connection to it. Thus, style becomes a crucial quality to analyze with in a passage. 

As the novel progresses, Wharton's style becomes more evident and visible. Throughout the novel, fine details in what the characters notice and the narrator unfolds become a key aspect and tool in Wharton's storytelling. From descriptions of people to events, such details become a part of the rhythm of the book. This style becomes a reflection of each character in what they describe and focus upon and the pattern of such details set the speed of the story. Through the speed of the novel, Wharton subliminally  connects the reader to the emotions  of the characters as she uses the rhythm to reflect their feelings. For example, in Chapter Six, Wharton portrays the urgency Lily feels in finding a solution to her financial problems and returned acceptance into society by quickening the pase of the book and characters thoughts and actions like in the quote, "And suddenly fear possessed her-fear of herself, and of the terrible force of temptation (Wharton, Page 198)." This pattern of the rise and fall of Lily's success and happiness with depression and fear portrays this evident and useful aspect of Wharton's style.