In the Gilded Age, the distinction between the upper and lower class were more prominent than other era in American history. While the lower class strives to attain the American Dream, the wealthy are immersed in luxurious amenities that blindside them to the societal issues around them. In The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton, Lily Bart is depicted as a fledgling socialite seeking to enter the upper echelons of the Gilded Age. However, her moral standards unfortunately restrain her ability to secure a more prominent social standing. Initially fixated on the obsession of marrying rich, Bart’s desire to fulfill the void left by her parents’ teachings makes her focus on society 's materialistic aspect. Struggling to find a place, Lily recognizes
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These families are tied to an exclusive society defined by not only the amount of wealth possessed but also social grace. The people in this society are without human morals because they care more about their economic standing then the well-being of others. Since Lily’s wealthy acquaintances befriended her solely when she was a her peak, they severed all ties when her reputation was later destroyed, revealing their artificial relationship. Judy Trenor’s husband, Gus Trenor, is known to give money to Carry Fisler in exchange for being his escort. Although these types of affairs are often kept secretive, Judy reveals that she knows about the affairs: “[Carry] borrows money of Gus--but then I 'd pay her to keep him in a good humour, so I can 't complain, after all” (39). Judy’s nonchalant attitude come from a sense of security in her own wealth. The upper elite sinks further into their protective shells of wealth because of the security that their wealth brings, and this affects Lily when she desperate for acceptance. For example, when Lily is in need of aid against Bertha Dorset’s false accusations, she is made an outcast due to society’s inability to do what is morally right. Within the aristocracy, women compete in “who presumed to give bigger dinners or have more amusing house-parties,” (40), thus emphasizing the unimportant aspects of life. Due to Lily’s inability to match these social expectations associated with money, she is left behind without thought. Edith Wharton delineates Lily as an outcast through the adversity she faces while depicting the upper class’s lack of empathy caused by monetary societal
These families are tied to an exclusive society defined by not only the amount of wealth possessed but also social grace. The people in this society are without human morals because they care more about their economic standing then the well-being of others. Since Lily’s wealthy acquaintances befriended her solely when she was a her peak, they severed all ties when her reputation was later destroyed, revealing their artificial relationship. Judy Trenor’s husband, Gus Trenor, is known to give money to Carry Fisler in exchange for being his escort. Although these types of affairs are often kept secretive, Judy reveals that she knows about the affairs: “[Carry] borrows money of Gus--but then I 'd pay her to keep him in a good humour, so I can 't complain, after all” (39). Judy’s nonchalant attitude come from a sense of security in her own wealth. The upper elite sinks further into their protective shells of wealth because of the security that their wealth brings, and this affects Lily when she desperate for acceptance. For example, when Lily is in need of aid against Bertha Dorset’s false accusations, she is made an outcast due to society’s inability to do what is morally right. Within the aristocracy, women compete in “who presumed to give bigger dinners or have more amusing house-parties,” (40), thus emphasizing the unimportant aspects of life. Due to Lily’s inability to match these social expectations associated with money, she is left behind without thought. Edith Wharton delineates Lily as an outcast through the adversity she faces while depicting the upper class’s lack of empathy caused by monetary societal