Monday, July 2, 2012

Chapters I and II

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Book I: Chapters I & II

The beginning of the novel reveals an insight into American culture in the 1900s. Through Miss Lily Bart's concerns of finding a suitable man for marriage, Wharton reveals that a womans' primary duty is to find a husband and get married. She reveals this through a conversation between Mr. Selden and Miss Bart. "  ' Isn't marriage your vocation? Isn't it what you're all brought up for? '  " (Wharton, 6). Moreover women feel immense pressure to marry for wealth before happiness. This conflict will probably be the  central point in Miss Lily Bart's thoughts throughout the novel. Also, she may be faced with a choice between her happiness and the desire for wealth. The lust for wealth is a common theme in many works because it is a serious temptation in human life. The common road that takes place in choosing wealth over pure happiness is regret and remorse for what could have been a wonderful and pure life. The common phrase "money can't buy happiness" holds completely true and it is a common theme in many films and novels. This theme is timeless because it holds true in every aspect of human life.

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