Wednesday, May 1, 2024

The House of Mirth Edith Wharton, 1905, Social Criticism

house of mirth

The hall was arcaded, with a gallery supported on columns of pale yellowmarble. Tall clumps of flowering plants were grouped against a backgroundof dark foliage in the angles of the walls. On the crimson carpet adeer-hound and two or three spaniels dozed luxuriously before the fire,and the light from the great central lantern overhead shed a brightnesson the women’s hair and struck sparks from their jewels as they moved. “And at this hour of the day I don’t suppose you’ve a single one left,have you, Lily? Mrs. George Dorset, regardless of the mild efforts of a traveller with acarpet-bag, who was doing his best to make room for her by getting out ofthe train, stood in the middle of the aisle, diffusing about her thatgeneral sense of exasperation which a pretty woman on her travels notinfrequently creates.

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Other young ladies of fashionhad been thus “set up,” selling their hats by the mere attraction of aname and the reputed knack of tying a bow; but these privileged beingscould command a faith in their powers materially expressed by thereadiness to pay their shop-rent and advance a handsome sum for currentexpenses. And even could it havebeen found, how were the ladies on whose approval she depended to beinduced to give her their patronage? Gerty learned that whatever sympathyher friend’s case might have excited a few months since had beenimperilled, if not lost, by her association with Mrs. Hatch. Once again,Lily had withdrawn from an ambiguous situation in time to save herself-respect, but too late for public vindication.

house of mirth

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The remark was uttered with a little air of proprietorship not lost onits object, who concealed a faint blush of annoyance by stooping to pickup the book he had dropped at Lily’s approach. The latter’s eyes widenedcharmingly and she broke into a light laugh. Miss Bart, accordingly, rose the next morning with the most earnestconviction that it was her duty to go to church. She tore herself betimesfrom the lingering enjoyment of her breakfast tray, rang to have her greygown laid out, and despatched her maid to borrow a prayer-book from Mrs.Trenor. It was Mrs. Trenor’s theory that her daughters actually did go to churchevery Sunday; but their French governess’s convictions calling her to therival fane, and the fatigues of the week keeping their mother in her roomtill luncheon, there was seldom any one present to verify the fact. “You see I came after all,” he said; but before she had time to answer,Mrs.

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house of mirth

She was vexed to see that, in spite of so many years ofvigilance, she had blundered twice within five minutes. That stupid storyabout her dress-maker was bad enough—it would have been so simple totell Rosedale that she had been taking tea with Selden! But, after havinglet herself be surprised in a falsehood, it was doubly stupid to snub thewitness of her discomfiture.

Notes

Mrs. Peniston had chosen the wrong moment toboast of her niece’s charms. Mrs. Peniston, on whom she had looked in a day or two after the dinner,laid down her crochet-work and turned abruptly from her oblique survey ofFifth Avenue. She smiled as she spoke, letting her eyes rest on his in a way that tookthe edge from her banter and made him suddenly malleable to her will. The fact that the remark was in distinctly bad taste did not make it anyeasier to answer, for Lily was vividly aware that it was not the momentfor that drawing up of her slim figure and surprised lifting of the browsby which she usually quelled incipient signs of familiarity.

Finding Balance and Pleasure in 'The House of Mirth' - NPR

Finding Balance and Pleasure in 'The House of Mirth'.

Posted: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:00:00 GMT [source]

She did not like Trenor’s unusual excitability, with its too evidentexplanation, and the thought of being alone with him, with her friend outof reach upstairs, at the other end of the great empty house, did notconduce to a desire to prolong their TETE-A-TETE. He had taken her hand, half-banteringly, and was drawing her toward a lowseat by the hearth; but she stopped and freed herself quietly. The former, at Selden’s approach, paused in the careful selection of acigar from one of the silver boxes invitingly set out near the door.

Gillian Anderson honours late House of Mirth director Terence Davies - Yahoo Lifestyle UK

Gillian Anderson honours late House of Mirth director Terence Davies.

Posted: Tue, 10 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Carry is also known for bringing newcomers into high society such as Rosedale and the Wellington Brys, who had managed the miracle of making money in a falling market. After Lily has been expelled from the upper class by Bertha, Carry is one of the few people who still show compassion toward her, offering Lily support and job opportunities. Carry is an example of a woman who finds ways to earn money and to succeed in society despite being divorced and somewhat disreputable. Her presence in the story refutes the notion that Lily has no choice except to self-destruct.

He noticed the other faces, vague with fear and conjecture—he saw thelandlady’s imposing bulk sway professionally toward him; but he shrankback, putting up his hand, while his eyes mechanically mounted the steepblack walnut stairs, up which he was immediately aware that his cousinwas about to lead him. ” Gerty cried in a strange voice, “how could you get here soquickly? ”—and the trembling hand she laid on him seemed instantly toclose about his heart. Slowly the thought of the word faded, and sleep began to enfold her. Shestruggled faintly against it, feeling that she ought to keep awake onaccount of the baby; but even this feeling was gradually lost in anindistinct sense of drowsy peace, through which, of a sudden, a darkflash of loneliness and terror tore its way. The poor little working-girl who had found strength to gather up thefragments of her life, and build herself a shelter with them, seemed toLily to have reached the central truth of existence.

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Judy suffers from frequent headaches and avoids noisy environments such as the opera. She must sometimes cancel minor engagements on short notice, and prefers to stay at Bellomont when her head hurts. Bertha Dorset (Mrs. George Dorset)—A petite and pretty high-society matron whose husband George is extremely wealthy. She is first introduced catching the train to Bellomont where she boards with great fanfare and commotion. She demands that the porter find her a seat with her friends, Lily and Percy. Once at Bellomont Judy Trenor intimates to Lilly that Bertha is manipulative and also unscrupulous such that it is better to have her as a friend rather than an enemy.

Lily breasted the storm of enquiries asbest she could, explaining that she had had an attack of faintness on herway back from Carry Fisher’s; that, fearing she would not have strengthto reach home, she had gone to Miss Farish’s instead; but that a quietnight had restored her, and that she had no need of a doctor. “I must have been over-tired last night; I think I had a nervous attackin the carriage,” she said, as the drink brought clearness to hersluggish thoughts. She glanced shyly at Lily, asking in an embarrassed tone how she felt;Lily answered with the same constraint, and raised herself up to drinkthe tea.

She was dining with Mrs. Fisher, who had gathered at an informal feast afew of the performers of the previous evening. There was to be plantationmusic in the studio after dinner—for Mrs. Fisher, despairing of therepublic, had taken up modelling, and annexed to her small crowded housea spacious apartment, which, whatever its uses in her hours of plasticinspiration, served at other times for the exercise of an indefatigablehospitality. Lily was reluctant to leave, for the dinner was amusing, andshe would have liked to lounge over a cigarette and hear a few songs; butshe could not break her engagement with Judy, and shortly after ten sheasked her hostess to ring for a hansom, and drove up Fifth Avenue to theTrenors’.

Thistallied with the assurance, also confidentially imparted, that, neverhaving played bridge before, she had been “dragged into it” on the nightof her arrival, and had lost an appalling amount of money in consequenceof her ignorance of the game and of the rules of betting. He liked the ease and glitter of thelife, and the lustre conferred on him by being a member of this group ofrich and conspicuous people. But he thought it a very materialisticsociety; there were times when he was frightened by the talk of the menand the looks of the ladies, and he was glad to find that Miss Bart, forall her ease and self-possession, was not at home in so ambiguous anatmosphere. As she reached Fiftieth Street the clouds broke abruptly, and a rush ofcold rain slanted into her face.

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