The House of Mirth by Edith WhartonPlot Analysis up to page 241 or Chapter 10
In Book I, Wharton began the novel with large expositions on Lily Bart. She introduces how Lily, an unmarried twenty-nine-year-old women, was raised and the goals she has to find a rich husband. Moreover, Wharton introduces Lily's gambling addiction and speding habits that chew away at the small amount of money she has. For example, "Once or twice of late she had won a large sum, and instead of keeping it against future losses, had spent it in dress or jewelry..." (Wharton, 20). Lily lives in the circle of the upper class society of New York even though she does not have to riches her friends have. Her beauty and social grace fits in perfectly with the upper class, but she will not remain a permanent member of this high society unless the marries a wealthy man. Lily's attraction to Lawernce Selden, her true love, is also revealed in the exposition of the novel. However, she cannot marry him because he does not have enough money to satisfy her needs and habits.
Lily aks Gus Trenor to invest her money in the stock market so she can make more money for spending. He agrees to do this because he is attracted to Lily despite being married. In return, Gus Trenor expects Lily to treat him as a close friend. This deal initiates the rising action of the novel. Unbeknownst to Lily, Trenor invests his own money into the stock market. He does not reveal this until he becomes unsatisfied with Lily's treatment of him. Lily is now in debt to Gus and must repay him nine thousand dollars.
Beginning Book II, Lily takes an unexpected trip to Europe with the Dorsets, which constitutes the start of the climax. Lily discovers that Bertha is having an affair with Ned Silverton and that her purpose on the vacation was to ditract Bertha's husband George. In a turn of events, Lily is accused of having an affair with George Dorset by Bertha, which leads to Lily's downfall from the high society.
In the falling action, Lily comes back to the U.S. to find her aunt dead and leaving her with a legacy of only ten thousand dollars, which is the amount she needs to pay Gus Trenor. Lily cannot recieve this legacy for a year, so she is living with Gerty Farish in poverty and desperately trying to climb her way back to the upper class society. She struggles with lonliness and life at the bottom; as a result, her train of thought and natural behavior become disarrayed in her new environment. Lily strugges and struggles to earn money for herself and it seems her only way out is to find some way to marry Simon Rosedale. Hopefully, she will not be so desperate to marry a man whom she despised!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Book II: Chapters III & IV
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Chapters III & IV (pgs. 168-187)
Edith Wharton employs multiple literary techniques throughout the novel. The particular techniques I have seen most often are similes, metaphors, imagery, and stream of conscieusness. Wharton utilizes similes and metaphors to describe the feelings and thoughts of characters beyond just being happy and sad. These techniques not only add dimension to the character, but they also provide an insight into American culture in the early 1900s. For example, "Where Judy Trenor led, all the world would follow; and LIly had the doomed snese of the castaway who has signalled in vain to the fleeing sails," (Wharton, 185). Because Wharton references the world and uses sailsin the metaphor implies that the only way to travel across the world was by sailing on a boat. Moreover, Wharton goes beyond describing Lily's situation with a metaphor to explain the manner of Lily's situation in a more understandable and clear fashion. Wharton starts describing each setting with vivid imagery to emphasize its importance with how the characters interact with each other. Also, Wharton weaves multiple streams of conscieusness into the novel to magnify on the inner conflicts manuvering within each characters mind. The stream of conscieusness clarifies the novel and helps explain the actions and feelings of the characters in greater detail, especially Lily Bart. Whatron uses sophisticated diction that shifts upon the movement of each character. Whenever Lily moves across a space or enters a room, Wharton employs elegant and breathtaking diction to set the tone and emphasize the essence and effect of Lily's beauty. Wharton's effective use of literary techniques effectively shape the novel.
Chapters III & IV (pgs. 168-187)
Edith Wharton employs multiple literary techniques throughout the novel. The particular techniques I have seen most often are similes, metaphors, imagery, and stream of conscieusness. Wharton utilizes similes and metaphors to describe the feelings and thoughts of characters beyond just being happy and sad. These techniques not only add dimension to the character, but they also provide an insight into American culture in the early 1900s. For example, "Where Judy Trenor led, all the world would follow; and LIly had the doomed snese of the castaway who has signalled in vain to the fleeing sails," (Wharton, 185). Because Wharton references the world and uses sailsin the metaphor implies that the only way to travel across the world was by sailing on a boat. Moreover, Wharton goes beyond describing Lily's situation with a metaphor to explain the manner of Lily's situation in a more understandable and clear fashion. Wharton starts describing each setting with vivid imagery to emphasize its importance with how the characters interact with each other. Also, Wharton weaves multiple streams of conscieusness into the novel to magnify on the inner conflicts manuvering within each characters mind. The stream of conscieusness clarifies the novel and helps explain the actions and feelings of the characters in greater detail, especially Lily Bart. Whatron uses sophisticated diction that shifts upon the movement of each character. Whenever Lily moves across a space or enters a room, Wharton employs elegant and breathtaking diction to set the tone and emphasize the essence and effect of Lily's beauty. Wharton's effective use of literary techniques effectively shape the novel.
Book II: Chapters I & II
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Book II: Chapters I & II (pgs. 147-168)
In this portion of the novel, Lily and her acquaintances travel to Europe and they stop in Monte Carlo. Right now, my family and I are on a vacation in Europe, more specifically Austria. Because the setting in Chapters I and II was in Europe, I thought of our vacation. The architecture in Austria alone is amazing, especially in Vienna with the gorgeous palaces and one thousand-year-old buildings. We even ate dinner in a nine hundere-year-old building. We toured multiple palaces and catles, including the castle that inspired the structure of the Disney Cindarella Castle. One of the palaces included a treasury that held the crown of the Holy Roman Emperor. The sites and the scenary are magnificent both in the city and in the rural areas of Austria. The scenary of Europe described in the novel is also very beautiful, "Unclouded sunlight enveloped sea and shore in a bath of purest radiancy. The pupling waters drew a sharp white line of foam at the base of the shore; against its irregular eminences, hotels and villas flashed from the greyish verdure of olive and eucalyptus; and the background of bare and finely-pencilled mountains quivered in a pale intensity of light," (Wharton, 157). In Salzburg, my family and I climbed up to a fortress over one thousand years old. At the top, we overlooked the town of Salzburg encompassed by mountains with patches of snow dispersed across the peaks while the countryside was enveloped with emerald green grass. I have never seen such beautiful scenary.
Book II: Chapters I & II (pgs. 147-168)
In this portion of the novel, Lily and her acquaintances travel to Europe and they stop in Monte Carlo. Right now, my family and I are on a vacation in Europe, more specifically Austria. Because the setting in Chapters I and II was in Europe, I thought of our vacation. The architecture in Austria alone is amazing, especially in Vienna with the gorgeous palaces and one thousand-year-old buildings. We even ate dinner in a nine hundere-year-old building. We toured multiple palaces and catles, including the castle that inspired the structure of the Disney Cindarella Castle. One of the palaces included a treasury that held the crown of the Holy Roman Emperor. The sites and the scenary are magnificent both in the city and in the rural areas of Austria. The scenary of Europe described in the novel is also very beautiful, "Unclouded sunlight enveloped sea and shore in a bath of purest radiancy. The pupling waters drew a sharp white line of foam at the base of the shore; against its irregular eminences, hotels and villas flashed from the greyish verdure of olive and eucalyptus; and the background of bare and finely-pencilled mountains quivered in a pale intensity of light," (Wharton, 157). In Salzburg, my family and I climbed up to a fortress over one thousand years old. At the top, we overlooked the town of Salzburg encompassed by mountains with patches of snow dispersed across the peaks while the countryside was enveloped with emerald green grass. I have never seen such beautiful scenary.
Chapter XV
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Chapter XV (pgs. 136-146)
Wharton reveals Miss Bart to be a round and dynamic characer by depicting her complex and deep feelings and how her experiences and interactions with the other characters have changed her. Lily Bart is efflicted with hard-bearing internal and external conflicts. The internal conflicts she faces include love verses money and reputation vs happiness. Although the internal conflicts have been her primary struggle thus far, Lily has a pressing external conflict as well, which is the debt to Gus Trenor, who has put Lily in a terrible situation. He is "crazy" about Miss Bart and he lent her his money with the expectation of being a close friend of Lily's in return. Since Lily did not fulfill his wish, he had an explosion. Their friendly relationship is now destroyed and has left Lily to pay him nine thousand dollars.
Lily's beauty is her most dominant trait. She utilizes it for power and persuasion upon men. Despite not being wealthy, Lily is accepted into the rich society because of her seductive beauty. Her relationship with Selden continues to blossom as she comes in touch with her feelings for him. Moreover, he is her only hope, "But now his love was her only hope, and as she sat alone with her wretchedness the thought of confiding in him became as seductive as the river's flow to the suicide," (Wharton, 141). Lily and Selden's relationship transcended after their bewitching kiss atthe Bry's. They both have been thirsting to see each other, but they have had some miscommunications.
Gerty Farish, Mr. Selden's cousin, has grown to be one of Lily's closest friends. Going with Gerty to one of her missionaries has provided Lily with the feeling of satisfaction after helping someone in need.
Lily faces difficult times ahead under the circumstances that have come over her. Hopefully, Lily will learn that she does not need money to be happy, she only needs love.
Chapter XV (pgs. 136-146)
Wharton reveals Miss Bart to be a round and dynamic characer by depicting her complex and deep feelings and how her experiences and interactions with the other characters have changed her. Lily Bart is efflicted with hard-bearing internal and external conflicts. The internal conflicts she faces include love verses money and reputation vs happiness. Although the internal conflicts have been her primary struggle thus far, Lily has a pressing external conflict as well, which is the debt to Gus Trenor, who has put Lily in a terrible situation. He is "crazy" about Miss Bart and he lent her his money with the expectation of being a close friend of Lily's in return. Since Lily did not fulfill his wish, he had an explosion. Their friendly relationship is now destroyed and has left Lily to pay him nine thousand dollars.
Lily's beauty is her most dominant trait. She utilizes it for power and persuasion upon men. Despite not being wealthy, Lily is accepted into the rich society because of her seductive beauty. Her relationship with Selden continues to blossom as she comes in touch with her feelings for him. Moreover, he is her only hope, "But now his love was her only hope, and as she sat alone with her wretchedness the thought of confiding in him became as seductive as the river's flow to the suicide," (Wharton, 141). Lily and Selden's relationship transcended after their bewitching kiss atthe Bry's. They both have been thirsting to see each other, but they have had some miscommunications.
Gerty Farish, Mr. Selden's cousin, has grown to be one of Lily's closest friends. Going with Gerty to one of her missionaries has provided Lily with the feeling of satisfaction after helping someone in need.
Lily faces difficult times ahead under the circumstances that have come over her. Hopefully, Lily will learn that she does not need money to be happy, she only needs love.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Chapters XIII & XIV
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Chapters XIII & XIV (pgs. 112-136)
Lily felt joyful and happy at the beginning of Chapter 13 from her memorable night with Selden. She then went to the Trenor's and had a heated and vivid discussion with Gus Trenor, which delivered her into a fearful and shocking dimension. Then, a dimension of sadness and anguish overtook Lily by the time she came to Gerty for help. Like Inception, both Gerty and Lily traveled through dream-like dimensions.
Chapters XI & XII
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Chapters XI & XII (pgs. 97-112)
The setting in chapter twelve inspired an intimate moment between Miss Lily Bart and Mr. Selden. The night began with a party at the Bry's house. The special tableaux Mrs. Bry put on was shown in their beautiful and elegant Venetian style ball room. This setting exemplified the night and the beauty of many of the women attending the party. The tableaux included an incredibly gorgeous picture of Miss Bart that outlined her body and face perfectly. Miss Bart's picture mesmerized Mr. tsSelden that night. For example, "Its expression was now so vivid that for the first time he seemed to see before him the real Lily Bart, divested of the trivialities of her little world, and catching for a moment a note of that eternal harmony of which her beauty was a part," (Whaton, 109). His feelings and her beauty inclined him to find Miss Bart for he could no longer resist her. Selden found her, and he led her gently outside to a garden with hanging lights, a fountain delicately spraying lilies, and a sleeping lake. The quietness of this romantic setting on a midsummer night exagerated the fact that Lily and Mr. Selden were alone. Moreover, the beauty and fragrance of the garden fueled their feelings toward each other. It inspired "dream-like sensations" between both Lily and Selden. The magical and deserted garden combined to provide the perfect circumstances for Lily and Selden to kiss. The magical setting inspired a magical moment between Miss Bart and Mr. Selden.
Chapters XI & XII (pgs. 97-112)
The setting in chapter twelve inspired an intimate moment between Miss Lily Bart and Mr. Selden. The night began with a party at the Bry's house. The special tableaux Mrs. Bry put on was shown in their beautiful and elegant Venetian style ball room. This setting exemplified the night and the beauty of many of the women attending the party. The tableaux included an incredibly gorgeous picture of Miss Bart that outlined her body and face perfectly. Miss Bart's picture mesmerized Mr. tsSelden that night. For example, "Its expression was now so vivid that for the first time he seemed to see before him the real Lily Bart, divested of the trivialities of her little world, and catching for a moment a note of that eternal harmony of which her beauty was a part," (Whaton, 109). His feelings and her beauty inclined him to find Miss Bart for he could no longer resist her. Selden found her, and he led her gently outside to a garden with hanging lights, a fountain delicately spraying lilies, and a sleeping lake. The quietness of this romantic setting on a midsummer night exagerated the fact that Lily and Mr. Selden were alone. Moreover, the beauty and fragrance of the garden fueled their feelings toward each other. It inspired "dream-like sensations" between both Lily and Selden. The magical and deserted garden combined to provide the perfect circumstances for Lily and Selden to kiss. The magical setting inspired a magical moment between Miss Bart and Mr. Selden.
Chapters IX & X
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Chapters IX & X (pgs. 79-97)
Edith Wharton effectively utilizes sophisticated diction, elaborate syntax, and figurative language to define her style. Wharton portrayes Miss Lily Bart's thoughts and feelings through her syntax and diction. To convey a train of thought, Wharton uses semicolons and commas to create pauses in the characters' stream of conscieusness, which further portrays a fluent thought process. Also, Wharton centralizes Miss Lily Bart's thought process to develope her personality and her internal conflicts as the main character and to develope an award winning novel. As she interacts with her acquaintances and potential grooms, Miss Bart's thoughts are conveyed through Wharton's figurative language. Whenever Lily interacts or thinks of Mr. Selden, Wharton employs elegant diction, vivid imagery, and elongates a fluent syntax. Therefore, Wharton conveys a brightness and a "blood rush" in Miss Bart's senses to portray the attraction and feelings she has toward Mr. Selden. When Lily talks or thinks about Mr. Rosedale,Wharton shifts the mood. She uses sharp and stiff diction to convey the annoyance and discompfort in Miss Bart's thoughts. For example, "Miss Bart felt an inward motion of annoyance: it was distasteful enough to her name coupled with Trenor's, and on Rosedale's lips the allusion was peculiarily unpleasant," (Wharton, 92). Whaton's effective utilization of vivid imagery, diction, and syntax conveys the novel in a fluent and relatable fashion.
Chapters IX & X (pgs. 79-97)
Edith Wharton effectively utilizes sophisticated diction, elaborate syntax, and figurative language to define her style. Wharton portrayes Miss Lily Bart's thoughts and feelings through her syntax and diction. To convey a train of thought, Wharton uses semicolons and commas to create pauses in the characters' stream of conscieusness, which further portrays a fluent thought process. Also, Wharton centralizes Miss Lily Bart's thought process to develope her personality and her internal conflicts as the main character and to develope an award winning novel. As she interacts with her acquaintances and potential grooms, Miss Bart's thoughts are conveyed through Wharton's figurative language. Whenever Lily interacts or thinks of Mr. Selden, Wharton employs elegant diction, vivid imagery, and elongates a fluent syntax. Therefore, Wharton conveys a brightness and a "blood rush" in Miss Bart's senses to portray the attraction and feelings she has toward Mr. Selden. When Lily talks or thinks about Mr. Rosedale,Wharton shifts the mood. She uses sharp and stiff diction to convey the annoyance and discompfort in Miss Bart's thoughts. For example, "Miss Bart felt an inward motion of annoyance: it was distasteful enough to her name coupled with Trenor's, and on Rosedale's lips the allusion was peculiarily unpleasant," (Wharton, 92). Whaton's effective utilization of vivid imagery, diction, and syntax conveys the novel in a fluent and relatable fashion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)