Lily Barth In Edith Wharton's House Of Mirth

In the novel House of Mirth, written by Edith Wharton, one can argue many different perspectives about the character of Lily Barth. Many will argue that she was a beauty who only wanted to have a nice life, like those she surrounded herself with. Others will say that she was a girl who wanted to have it all but due to lack of a proper upbringing she was never guided the right way. However the novel is best described as a series of ups and downs, for the character of Lily Bart. She wanted to have it all but she was not the type of person who was going to wait around, she will take matters into her own hands and use her “resources” in this case her beauty to get what she wants. However this great beauty will have a downfall, all of her efforts …show more content…
She is such a beautiful woman; all of the riches should be coming to her. Lily should not be the type of person who has to look for someone that will spoil her with riches. At this moment Selden realizes that Lily is a beautiful being but that is all that she can offer him. He will never have her love. All that Lily was after was a suitor that would bring her the status she wanted and the riches that she so longed to possess. Selden realized this at the tableaux vivant and even thought “ it would have broken the spell to see her too soon in the surroundings from which accident has so happily detached her” (Wharton, 133). Selden has tried very hard to see the good in Lily, he wants to deny the fact that she acts superficial and never gives him the time of day. If the only man that has truly loved Lily is giving up on her then it is only a matter of time until the rest of her so called socialite friends will leave her as well.
Lily being so ambition trusts the wrong people, not the people who care for her. Lily is so blinded by her ambition that she even trusts Gus Trenor, with what he calls a business deal, to make her rich without the help of a suitor. Lily just wants to live the life that she believes that she deserves, therefore she accepts Trenor’s offer only to realize that it was all just a scam. Now not only is Lily poor, but now she is also in …show more content…
Rosedale proposes to Lily to get married with him, he is willing to give Lily all that she has ever wanted. He knows that Lily is not interested in him romantically, but he knows what she wants. He even states, “ you’re not fond of me - yet but you’re fond of luxury and style, and amusement, and of not having to worry about cash.” (Wharton, 173). Rosedale is handing Lily all that she has ever wanted on a silver platter and he is handling it like a business deal. He knows that with Lily by his side the rest of the men and women will be jealous because of the beauty that he has on his arm. Although this all sounds lovely to Lily, she refuses the offer because she believes that she can find someone better than Rosedale. A mistake that Lily will later have to face the consequences for, but at the moment Lily does not