The House of Mirth- Book Two

Chapter Thirteen

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

"If only life could end now-end on this tragic yet sweet vision of lost possibilities, which gave her a sense of kinship with all the loving and forgoing in the world (Wharton, Page 261)!" From the occurance of chance, Lily is given hope from the least expected of sources. As in the quote of Lily's thoughts, I wonder at the true desires of Lily and the possibilities of her newly discovered world.

Lily's forgotten moment of charity appears once more in the undoubtedly grateful being of Mrs. Nettie Struther who in wishing to thank Lily, helps Lily by showing her the life she truly had always deeply longed for. In hearing Mrs. Struther's story of a past that had become Lily's reality and seeing her success in escaping its misery, Lily finds hope once more and establishes a plan and dream for the tomorrow yet to come. Additionally, in the check that arrives with her inheritance, Lily is able to finally let go of her former life and visualize a life of happiness like that of Nettie Struthers. Yet in all of these realizations and dreams, Lily is unable to sleep and overdoses on her medicine as she settles down for a deadly sleep. Thus, I question Lily's true acceptance of this new plan, if she really has moved on, and if she is strong enough to let go of her past as Mrs. Struther did. Most importantly though, I question if Lily will make it through the night and if she doesn't, I question Wharton's purpose in taking the life of Lily when she was so near to a happy ending. 

Chapter Twelve

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

"She had passed beyond the phase of well-bred reciprocity, in which every demonstration must be scrupulously proportioned to the emotion it elicits, and generosity of feeling is the only ostentation condemned Wharton, Page 249)." As in Chapter Twelve from Book One, in Chapter Twelve of Book Two, Lily is overcome by intense emotions, but this time, of the opposite feeling. This time, she feels only sadness.

Rather than being in a trans of happiness, Lily is lost in her own dwelling sadness. While before I was able to fully relate to Lily's experience and share in her elation, I am thankful that I can only distantly imagine the intensity of Lily's pain. While I have dealt with the loss of family and friends, I have never had to accept the loss of myself. I have never lost everything I have known (for Lily, her wealth and social prominence), everything I have ever loved (for Lily, money, her friends, and now Selden's deepest love) my sense and grasp for the future (for Lily, her hopes and dreams of happiness, success, and marriage), or everything I have become (for Lily, her sense of beauty and importance). 

Lily's life, initially like a dream, has become a sleepless nightmare. From her overwhelming happiness to overwhelming depression, Lily's life has taken an unimaginable turn as her life slips through her hand like sand. With each grain thrown to the wind, there is less to grasp within her hand.