Chapter III
A minor character who never actually appears in the story, but plays a major role in the formation of Lily Bart, is Mrs. Bart, her mother. Mrs. Bart is describes by Lily as a woman who had "no tolerance for scenes which were not of her own making" (Wharton, 32). As Lily explains her distaste for "dinginess" in life, we come to understand that her preferences stem from Mrs. Bart's influence during childhood. Lily grew up in extravagance until her father lost all his money and died. At this point, Mrs. Bart pressures her daughter into believing that her looks are the only thing that can alleviate their situation.
Later, we see Lily's obsession with her appearance as she tries to find a husband at the Bellomont.
But as Lily's quest eventually goes sour, she may fall into the same trap as her mother: "She had hated dinginess, and it was her fate to be dingy" (Wharton, 35).
Mrs. Bart plays a role in determining the course of the novel through her influence of Lily's values and the ways she goes about attaining them.
No comments:
Post a Comment