Chapter II
In the second chapter, readers are introduced to two ways of displaying wealth portrayed by the annoyingly flamboyant character of Bertha Dorset and the more reserved Percy Gryce.
Mrs. Dorset displays her wealth through her possessions. She is introduced as "a pretty woman, who entered the train accompanied by a maid, a bull-terrier, and a footman staggering under a load of bags and dressing-cases" (Wharton, 22). She is the type of person who wants her wealth to be acknowledged, fulfilling a need for instant gratification. People like her today have an obsession with newer cars, larger diamonds, and the latest technology. Not as tactful as Lily, Mrs. Dorset finds no need to explain herself due to her immense wealth.
Mr. Gryce, on the other hand, emits a more private existence, taking pride in his collection of Americana bought by his equally immense wealth. Still, under his humble exterior is a similar need for acknowledgment of his wealth and accomplishments. Lily describes him as "like a merchant whose warehouses are crammed with an unmarketable commodity" (Wharton, 19).
Mrs. Dorset and Mr. Gryce are both people who, in a way, want a label. They want to be known as people with money and comfort, though they display this in different ways. Mrs. Dorset's endeavors later in the novel make her one of the primary antagonists while Mr. Gryce simply becomes a lost opportunity in Lily's quest for a husband.
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