Chapters VII & VIII
As I read Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, I am continually struck by superficiality and insincerity of the characters. Simply put, the men are egotistical and the women are gold diggers! The book mainly concentrates on the women, however. For example, Mrs. Trenor states, "'It's too delightful of you to be so nice to him, and put up with all his tiresome stories. I know what they are, because I had to listen to them when we were engaged....'" (Wharton, 69). Moreover, of the poorer women at the wedding Lily thinks to herself, "It is almost as stupid to let your clothes betrat that you know you are ugly as to have them proclaim that you think you are beautiful" (Wharton, 71-72). With these quotes, among many others, Wharton illustrates the attitude of Lily and her peers. The whole "society" revolves around money and material. This is not the traditional moral attitude of a central character. This makes me wonder, therefore, whether Miss Bart is in for an epiphany of perspective. Will she evolve into a morally right, nonmaterialistic, and selfless woman?
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