Interpreter of Maladies

"Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

The central conflict of the story is unfulfilled desires. Both Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi have dreams that they were unable to realize because of the vague duties of life. At the start of the story, it is obvious that they both need something from each, the conflict is not fully resolved in the end, but I think they both received what they needed. Mrs. Das, in asking Mr. Kapasi about how she should handle her current situation, is forced to face the possibility that she is responsible for her own unhappiness, not her husband, Raj. And, Mr. Kapasi, in talking more with Mrs. Das, realizes that all her initial perfections cannot change her deeper flaws. While neither one is perfectly suited for their partner, they must work on compromising in order to view their situations for the best. Mrs. Das must move forward and reject her "urge to throw everything I own out the window, the television, the children, everything," (Lahiri, 163). Even while she is talking to Mr. Kapasi, she knows that her feelings are that of someone who has already given up and even while he is daydreaming about her, he is aware that his fantasies can never come true. This story, in one aspect, is simply a description of the daily snippets of daydreams that we have with people we meet by chance with whom we plan a escape from our reality, knowing full well that we cannot leave the reality we have created for ourselves.

Everyday Use

"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker

I think that here, Walker presents us with a strong story of loyalty. I really enjoyed her descriptive writing and how she so vividly portrayed the emotions of her characters. After a lifetime of passiveness, the speaker finally takes up the courage to stand up to her daughter's dominant personality and give what is rightfully due to her other daughter. Walker explores the speaker's inner conflict as she struggles to grasp the life her daughter chose versus the life that she herself leads. A technique that Walker uses to highlight the heightened sense of separation is her progressive use of Dee, then Wangero, then both, then Miss Wangero at the end. In a way, she is closing the door on the ideals that her daughter has picked up or created in her time away.

I found it ironic that the speaker knew everything about the clothes used to make her quilt and her daughter later accused her of not understanding her heritage, when in reality, Dee had no knowledge or desire to learn about her true heritage. At the end of the short story, she symbolically covers her identity again when "She put on some sunglasses that hid everything above the tip of her nose and her chin," (Walker, 181).

Hazel Tells LaVerne

"Hazel Tells LaVerne" by Katharyn Howd Machan

Machan utilizes indirect characterization to tell us about her poem's speaker. By eliminating use of capitalization and punctuation combined with the use of uneducated speaking Machan tells us that her character is from a lower social class, probably a maid or servant. Repetition of "me a princess" makes the reader believe that the speaker does not have foolish aspirations or even dreams. I think the poem has a sad tone because of this aspect. The fact that someone finds it absurd that they could move out of their current situation, that they don't have dreams. The speaker rejects the frog's invitation with a repulsed attitude. Her attitude towards him is expressed in connotative diction such as "sewer" and "pervert." All the details of the original Frog and Princess are included besides the fact that she chooses not to kiss the frog.

Mr. Z = Hillary Clinton

He dressed and spoke the perfect part of honor;
chose prudent, raceless views of each situation, and became
'One of the most distinguished members of his race.'

However unfortunate for the members of society with the previously superior Y chromosome, women are rapidly entering into jobs once thought of to be "man's work." Before I continue, I will make the statement that I do not condemn men for what they are consciously or unconsciously doing to women entering the work force, I very clearly see that it is a trend and mindset of society that could have just as easily happened the other way around. The trend that I am referring to is the loss of feminine identity that can sometimes occur when women attempt to tread on men's territory. As a nation, we have ingrained in us an image of  the ideal power holder, an image of the person who should be in charge. This image is most often a distinguished man in a suit with a deep voice and excellent speaking abilities. Today, as women, who by definition cannot obtain some of the qualities described, begin climbing the workforce ladders, "glass ceilings" are falling on top of them simply because they don't look or act the part. Fighting the system doesn't work, because the system is run by men and we certainly don't want to come off as a whiny third-grade girl who didn't get to play with the boys because they won't let her wear a dress, so we change ourselves to fit in. This concept is deeply explored in Holman's poem "Mr. Z." The character explained in the poem is clearly changing himself and shedding his true identity to fit in with an equally challenging society. As African Americans entered society newly freed, in order to get ahead they had to cover who they were and mold themselves into the Anglo-Saxon way of thinking and acting. Only then, would they receive the title of the "most distinguished members of his race." The more he became like them, the more he was accepted. I believe history is repeating itself today. Do you notice how the most successful women of today dress? carry themselves? fix their hair? Everything is carefully calculated in order to fit the mold. For example, one of the most successful women in current politics is Hillary Clinton. When she entered the political arena solo, she immediately cut her hair short, now wears mostly dark pantsuits, and applies little makeup. The more like men we become, the more successful we are; similarly, the more Mr. Z became like the white race, the more he was revered and respected.

Mr. Z's Dream Deferred

Works: "Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes
            "Mr. Z" by M. Carl Holman

Both authors present a message of smothered hopes and dreams. But, while we are presented with a stock character in Hughes's poem, Mr. Z is described with details that form a round character. Hughes's character could represent the African American slave whose dreams were crushed by his bonds. This character is highly explored in the world of literature. Mr. Z is the slightly more modern African American, probably living a little while before the resurgence of African American pride movement. He feels the need to cover his ethnic identity to fit in with the Ango-Saxon ideals. The poem is peppered with ironic tones, especially in the last line. Still, we find the throwback use of "Z" to replace the "X" that was used to symbolize the non-identity of an illiterate person. Holman takes off from the idea Hughes started. Hughes's general ideas of smothered dreams inspire Holman's more specific message of how we can squash our dreams to fit in with the rest or to get ahead.

Perrine Blog Post

"A writer should not be his own interpreter."
This quote by E. A. Robinson stuck out the most to me within the packet and initially made me feel that my previous opinion that all poems are open to all interpretations was correct. In reading the paper, I have not changed that view, but have edited my criteria a bit. I understood and liked the concept that an interpretation must be well explained and uncontradictory. I believe that ideas can be "far-fetched" and also correct though. Because the creativity used to construct the poetry was unbounded, I believe that the creativity used to interpret the poetry should not be restricted either. Much like the article we read which explained that novels should be complicated to read and understand because they were complicated to write, I think the same rules apply to the reading of poetry. There are no "wrong" answers, but there are interpretations that are more accepted because they are more logical to the majority of people.

A mostly logical case can be made for all pieces of poetry. And this, I view as the beauty of creative expression in writing. A single combination of words and lines can mean so many different things to various different people. Poetry gives the freedom to explore our interpretations of a piece and why we feel a certain way about a poem based on life experience, current situation, or the influence of a thousand other factors. While poetry analysts need a few great answers for the capabilities to draw general conclusions, poetry is open to the world for interpretation. In my mind, reading poetry is like prayer. Each person has their own style. There are forms that are more accepted within the realms of society, but in the privateness of their own thoughts, people can draw whichever conclusions or inspirations from the written words of others.

Favorite Quotes

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

"We heard it from three people so it must be true," (Fitzgerald, 19).

This quote pokes fun at the foolishness of society and how truth is twisted into all forms. Fitzgerald uses this to point out the shallowness of Daisy and how she is so easily sucked into the stupidity of the "hype" that surrounds gossip.

"Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay," (Fitzgerald, 78).

This shows Gatsby's misplaced, undying love for the Daisy he remembers from his youth. Unable to forget the past and move on, Gatsby tries so hard to get close to Daisy physically and emotionally only to be shut out by her unrequited love.

"She told me it was a girl, and so I turned my head away and wept. 'All right,' I said, 'I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll  be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool," (Fitzgerald, 17).

I like this quote because it shows that Daisy does have some depth to her and could have decided to leave with Gatsby. I think that this quote is still applicable today in situations where a girl has not been taught to stand up for herself and be independent. While this image of a desirable, foolish, and weak girl is fading from our society, remnants of this persona still haunt us as glass ceilings and old prejudices hold some women back.

Character Profile - Daisy Buchanan

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Daisy, the object of desire during the novel, is presented in the last few chapters as a coward. Her initial wisdom that is introduced at the beginning of the book quickly dissipates as she shrinks under the power of her husband during the time when she could stand up to him and leave with her past love Gatsby. The sad part is that Daisy has now had two chances to change her fate. The first being at her wedding where she almost did, "She groped around in a waste-basket...and pulled out the string of pearls. 'Take 'em down-stairs and give 'em back to whoever they belong to. Tell 'em all Daisy's chane' her mine. Say: 'Daisy's change' her mine!'" (Fitzgerald, 76). I don't believe that this is anything but a fickle young woman speaking. Daisy does not have the qualities worthy of anyone but Tom. While he is abusive to her, she is intelligent enough to leave him if it gets too bad. But, leaving Tom means leaving money and it is clear that she is unwilling to do that.

Chapter 9

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Watching Gatsby's funeral through Nick's eyes, we see vividly the sadness of the event. Though his life was entirely dedicated to the enjoyment and serving of others, no one cares to take the time to celebrate or mourn his life unless they could make money or fame off the rumors surrounding his death. Nick finds himself disgusted with society and especially the two people that he blames for the Great Gatsby's demise: Tom and Daisy. "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they made..." (Fitzgerald, 179). Nick concludes that he will never understand their actions, nor does he want to. As the novel concludes we see what type of person Gatsby was. His self-improvement schedule and backstory shock the reader because they know that it was only the imagined love of a woman that brought on his demise.

Chapter 8

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

In this chapter, we witness the weight of promises. Gatsby spills his love story with Nick, admitting that after they made love Daisy promised to wait until after he returned from the war to marry him. As we know, her plans fell through with her marriage to Tom. I'm sure that if Gatsby was not such a gentleman, he would say something like what the man in Lady Antebellum's song Things That People Say is saying to his lost love. But all of Gatsby's regrets mean little as his tragedy comes to an end with his murder. How ironic that the one avenging Myrtle's death is her "lifeless" husband, not her lover with whom she had rathered to spend her time. George acts out some of the same emotions that Gatsby has felt throughout the novel: betrayal, a broken heart, despair, and anger while he takes his own life. Now the blood of two men trapped in unrequited love is on the hands of Daisy. "It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete," (Fitzgerald, 162).

Character Profile - Jay Gatsby

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

The "Great" Gatsby receives his title from Nick who is characterized throughout the book as an impartial observer. In many ways though, Gatsby is only a great dreamer. Staking everything on the dream that he could have Daisy if he made himself wealthy enough, Gatsby proceeded to destroy his life.

"So I walked away and left him standing there in the moonlight - watching over nothing," (Fitzgerald, 145). That is truly what Daisy had become for her old love Gatsby: nothing. She was not his and could never be his because she had already given herself to someone else. This made Gatsby go mad with desire and underlying grief. He lost his grip of reality as most of us would having our entire life's work torn to bits by a blubbering ex without a backbone. In the last chapters, Gatsby dies protecting the memory of what he and Daisy once were and still are in his fantasies. His incapability to refocus and live in the present led him to Daisy's side where his loyalty and honor led him to die for her. In the bigger picture, Gatsby is a symbol for his entire 20s society and the conspicuous consumption that led to their demise in the 30s.

Chapter 7 (Part 2)

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

The car crash. The body. The aftermath. All results of desperation brought on by wealth or lack there of. Though Myrtle's ripped corpse is swept to the side of the road, the battle for her revenge takes off with a running start. For Tom, Gatsby has crossed him for the last time. Knowing this and knowing Tom's violent reactions, Gatsby again reverts to the hopelessly in love gentleman and hides out at Daisy's house to make sure that Tom does not hurt her. At this point, he must accept reality. He must accept the reality that Tom and Myrtle's husband George think that he killed Myrtle and that he will pay for sins that are not truly his. Nick, Daisy, and Gatsby are the only ones who know the truth: that Daisy was the driver of the car and hit Myrtle, and trust me, none of them are going to say a word. Inexplicably, Gatsby is sacrificing himself for the very woman who just denied him. Here we leave Gatsby for his night vigil:

"'How long are you going to wait?'

'All night if necessary. Anyhow, till they all go to bed,'" (Fitzgerald, 144).

Chapter 7 (Part 1)

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Action and heated discussion characterize this chapter as Gatsby and Tom come head to head for the possession of Daisy. Notice that here I do not use the word "love." I don't believe that either Tom or Gatsby truly loves Daisy at this point. Gatsby is chasing after the shadow of what they once were together, ignoring the woman she is now, and Tom only sees this as another match, another football game in which he will be the victor. Tom and Gatsby mudsling like a couple of politicians dangerously close to the prize while Daisy slinks towards the clear winner: her cheating, clever husband. Again and again during the meal we see Gatsby's inability to see reality. When Daisy and Tom's little girl enters the room, Nick notes Gatsby's shocked haze, "Afterward he kept looking at the child with surprise. I don't think he had ever really believed in its existence  before," (Fitzgerald, 117). Gatsby can't let himself accept the child because, in doing so, he is accepting that Daisy is not his, that she had a life without him, that she went so far as to create something that is half Tom's and that she can't leave every part of her new life for him. In Tom's victory in the argument, he rubs one last taunt in Gatsby's face by telling him to drive home with Daisy after their trip to New York.

Character Profile - Tom Buchanan

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tom's role in the novel is ultimately the antagonist. Everything Gatsby wants is destroyed by Tom's mere presence. His "jealous husband" act keeps Daisy from fulfilling her desires and his bullying personality stops his wife Daisy and his mistress Myrtle from reaching their full potential. His standards for everyone else are lowered for himself as he evaluates his actions. His entirely self-absorbed demeanor is viewed as unapproachable and unattractive, but his money allows much of this to be looked over by business associates and women who place the value of the dollar over integrity. Tom's fear of Gatsby only allows him another arena in which to exert his power. Daisy, wanting so much to leave him, still crumbles under his invisible hold and ends up staying with her abusive and oppressive husband. He is the classic bully who pulls on people's weaknesses by exerting himself as super self-confident and in charge. Intimidation is his primary tool for keeping people under his control and so far, his reign has not been threatened by the society he is in.

Chapter 6

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

"He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to tom and say: 'I never loved you.' After she had obliterated four years with that sentence...they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house - just as if it were five years ago," (Fitzgerald, 109).

Gatsby truly believes that he deserves this. His crazy fantasies have taken over his actions, and now, his expectations and perceptions of others. He doesn't know, or won't accept, that Daisy cannot be that person for him, she isn't strong enough. Something brought up in this chapter that I believe contributes to Gatsby's inability to move on is his abstaining from alcohol. Unlike the rest of the people at his parties who can wash away their worries every night with his outstanding supply of liquor, Gatsby remains sober due to experiences in his past and therefore has no escape to the memories of Daisy that torment him.

Chapter 5

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

In this chapter we are enlightened to Gatsby's entire purpose for life: Daisy. After they finally obtain their meeting at Nick's house, Gatsby is as tongue-tied as a school boy with a crush and Daisy is embarrassed as I'm sure she is re-living their moments together as a couple. Finally, they reconnect after Gatsby takes her on a tour of his mansion and points out how he can see her house from across the water. "'If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay,' said Gatsby. 'You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock,'" (Fitzgerald, 92). Daisy understands his undying affection for her and breaks down to cry again. Gatsby epitomizes happiness for her as she epitomizes everything Gatsby has ever worked for. Gatsby's whole life has been aimed at pleasing Daisy. He bought the mansion and filled it with society people, he held parties for nights on end, he became rich, all for her. And, just as the child-like persona that met Daisy in Nick's house, Gatsby cannot understand that she cannot reciprocate this love he has for her because of her marriage and weakness. Although she is now so close to him, Daisy is just as far from Gatsby's reaches as when he was stationed overseas.

Chapter 4

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

As Gatsby and Nick speed down the road and are pulled over, the audience is introduced to just how far Gatsby's influence spreads. Just as Gatsby gives favors to his party guests, Gatsby is given favors with the law and society people. It makes one wonder whether or not things like this happen in our world today. I would say yes, but have no proof. Despite Gatsby's easy life, he seems unhappy to Nick who later gets Gatsby's backstory from Jordan who summed the Gatsby-Daisy love story, "I came into her room half an hour before the bridal dinner, and found her lying on her bed as lovely as the June night in her flowered dress - and as drunk as a monkey. She had a bottle of Sauterne in one hand and a letter in the other," (Fitzgerald, 76). Immediately, we begin rooting for true love and the story of the underdog. Fitzgerald gives a whimsical feeling to his writing here with the fantastic descriptions attached to the flashback story and the dramatic retelling of the story because the readers can understand that the Gatsby-Daisy love can only end in tragedy. Their relationship now is well painted in the song by Reba McEntire and Brooks and Dunn If You See Him, If You See Her.

Character Profile - Myrtle Wilson

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Myrtle Wilson, though a relatively minor character, plays an important role later in the novel as well as the beginning as we learn what type of person Tom Buchanan is. On the surface, Myrtle is someone who wants everything that she doesn't have and doesn't appreciate the things she does have. But, when you dig deeper, Myrtle is a victim of the society she so desperately want to be a part of: a society that places much emphasis on objects and possession. Without fully realizing it, Myrtle is simply a possession of Tom. He does not love her, nor want to be with her or take responsibility for her for more than his choice weekends in his New York apartment. Her husband, George, adores her, but cannot fulfill her need for excitement and status. Her story is one greatly explored in music and literature. I think that her voice can be summed in the song Stay written and performed by Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles. She knows that when Daisy wants him back, Tom will leave and once again become the respected member of society.

Chapter 3

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

As chapter three progresses, we are offered a peek into the character of Gatsby and his lavish lifestyle through Nick's eyes as a newcomer. There are grand descriptions of Gatsby's mansion and the favors he provides for his guests; for example, "...the orchestra has arrived, no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and..." (Fitzgerald, 40). Gatsby seems to need to display his wealth in a very conspicuous manner which is characteristic of the time period. Though, when Nick finally meets Gatsby, after fighting through throngs of drunken guests and friends of guests, Gatsby appears surprisingly sober and distant from the events occurring in his own home. Nick is immediately drawn to his demeanor and admits his respect for Gatsby's lifestyle, a topic that will be later explored in the story as Nick discovers more about Gatsby's past. The conspicuous consumption of the 20s, we know, was followed by a period of depression. But, the people at Gatsby's party are certainly "living it up" and refusing to look ahead to the consequences of their actions, foolishly believing that it can be like this forever.

Chapter 2

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

We discover Tom's "girl" and their not-so-secret life together during this chapter. Almost a mirror image of the affairs in The House of Mirth, the married couples in The Great Gatsby, plagued by discontent steal away for a few nights with their lovers in another city to spend time together. Here, Nick learns that Tom and Myrtle cannot be together because Daisy is catholic and doesn't believe in divorce. To which Nick refutes in his mind, "Daisy was not a Catholic, and I was a little shocked at the elaborateness of the lie," (Fitzgerald, 33). This begs the question: why is Daisy lying? We have obviously seen Tom's cutting manner towards her in public and his physical abuse which is introduced in the first chapter with Daisy's finger and furthered by his breaking of Myrtle's nose in the second. Does Daisy think that she is protecting herself or her daughter by staying with him? Or does she simply know that she has no where else to turn as she is not nearly as eligible in her thirties with a child from another marriage? Her depth in weaving this lie is in immediate contradiction with the way she acts and speaks in public, leaving the reader wondering: who is Daisy?

Chapter 1

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald opens the novel by teaching us about his characters through their actions. Nick, the narrator, is a "pious" and unjudging observer of society as he tries to cement his place in the both the East and West Eggs. Daisy is immediately characterized as an enrapturing beauty with a secret, sad wisdom who is trapped in her marriage. On the other hand, her husband Tom appears to be the "bully" of their relationship as his controlling nature bleeds through even the first chapter. He is constantly cutting her off and driving the conversation around topics that interest him. We learn through Nick that Tom was once a football star and it is implied that he is still searching for that same kind of achievement and excitement in his life now, "I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little whistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game," (Fitzgerald, 6). This quote in many ways relates to people today. Everyone has a tendency to sometimes live in the past, to want those same feelings, experiences, and emotions. In reality, we probably remember those experiences better than they actually were, and therein lies the danger: recalling and enjoying past experiences is a good thing, but taking it just a touch over this line and refusing to live in the present can lead to unhealthy decisions and dissatisfaction with life.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapters XI-XII

I think Lily's situation in the last chapter is described perfectly in the Daughtry song Home. Disgusted and exhausted with her life, Lily finds solace in sleep and, ultimately, death. She accomplished everything her independent soul wanted: to eliminate all her debt. In many ways, she died happy. Though she didn't find a relationship or wealth, I don't believe that she was ever destined to. Wharton presents us with a peaceful image of Lily as Seldon and Gerty find her relaxed body, possibly the most peaceful and content that Lily has been presented in the entire novel. Her mind is no longer calculating, the lines on her face no longer pull in worry, and her lips no longer produce pointless pleasantries. Lily accomplished what her mother wanted too. She died eternally beautiful and without the debt that plagued Mrs. Bart. While the audience is left with the unsure feeling of a possible suicide. I don't think it matters as much as the result. Lily did not want to live in "dinginess" and therefore would not have been happy. Suicide or not, I believe it was for the best and think that Wharton believes so too. As she starts the last chapter of Lily's life, Wharton opens with a description, "The next morning rose mild and bright, with a promise of summer in the air," (Wharton, 344). In my mind, the storm has passed; Lily feels a sense of relief and Wharton wants us as readers to also identify with a release of the built pressure and emotional tension that she has constructed throughout the novel.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapter X

"'You don't want to increase the dose, you know,'" (Wharton, 305). In this case, the famous last words. At this point in the novel, I believe that Lily has already made her decision. She realizes that she will not ever settle on a husband and thinks that therefore she cannot find happiness. I believe she can't make the decision to marry because she doesn't believe that being married will bring her any happiness besides the happiness money can bring. Every marriage she has witnessed is unhappy: her parents suffered through a cold and loveless relationship, her society friends hire young wanna-bes to entertain their dull, rich husbands, and she just ended a stint covering for Bertha Dorset's affair. Wharton introduces Lily's addiction to sleeping pills in this chapter, adding another struggle to her already floundering life. A hopeless mood slips through this chapter and leaves the reader wondering exactly how Lily will deal with these changes in her life, as she has hit rock bottom. And where will Seldon reappear? He always seems to come to her rescue, but now, he is nowhere to be found as Lily faces some of the darkest times in her short life.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapters VII-IX

Opening with Lily's location in the next few chapters, Wharton focuses on Lily's status, how her physical location and how it is currently relating to her location in society. "The walk up Fifth Avenue...this glimpse of the ever-revolving wheels of the great societal machine made Lily more than ever conscious of the steepness and narrowness of Gerty's stairs and of the cramped blind-alley of life to which they led," (Wharton, 278). Lily is beginning to see the world through different eyes and Wharton takes her perspective as both a negative and a positive growth for Lily. Fifth Avenue symbolizes the life that Lily had and wants again while Gerty's house symbolizes what she has come to through her debts and indecisive lifestyle. In my opinion, Wharton utilizes symbolism most effectively in these chapters. Her place has been epitomized by physical characteristics now; she is in the same place as the rest of society, but she is not "in" society. For many celebrities today, location is everything. Country singers go to Nashville and actors and dancers go to New York. Celebrities seem to fear leaving the public's eye. By falling out of step with the rest, as Lily experienced, is a clear path to losing your spot in the tightly bound circle of society; there are always others ready to take your place, not caring about your story or downfall unless it contributes to their personal success.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapters IV-VI

"'The whole truth?' Miss Bart laughed. 'What is truth? Where a woman is concerned, it's the story that's easiest to believe," (Wharton, 237). This quote stood out to me because of it's relevance to current society. Often, in reading about politicians, public figures, and celebrities, we can focus on the story journalists are feeding us, regardless of the "truth" factor. The simplest story is the easiest to print and, as Lily says, the easiest to believe. For example, "I forgot to do my homework" is much more believable than "I went home and cleaned up the house, then had to go to the store because we didn't have eggs, then...etc...etc." And in Lily's case, it's easier to believe that she was having an affair with George than the real situation. This situation also applies in the Disney classic The Lion King. When Simba's uncle Scar tells him that his father (Mufasa) died because of him, Simba believes what Scar is telling him and runs away. Truth is, that Mufasa was trying to save Simba, but in that moment, it was easier for Simba to believe that his father died as a result of his actions because of his fragile emotional state. As the illustration says, what is the truth today will not always be the truth tomorrow. This comes true for both Simba and Lily Bart as their journey continues.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapters I-III (Part 2)

Just as Lily feared, she is once again a pawn in the rich hands of society members. Bertha Dorset jerks her around unashamedly and spurs rumors about an imaginary affair between Lily and George while covering her own affair with Ned. Then, simply for pleasure, Bertha finalizes Lily's exile from society and refuses her to return to their yacht, leaving her with no place to turn. But luckily, Lily's poor knight in shining armor, Seldon, appears and gives her shelter, physically and emotionally. His kind of heroism is reminiscent of our Disney days when Snow White's prince magically finds his way through the forest to the exact location where Snow White lies asleep. Unfortunately, Seldon's princess is not as willing as Snow White was. Lily continues to struggle for a self-sufficient lifestyle, pushing Seldon away once again, epitomizing her failure as a societal success. Lily cannot commit herself to one man at the risk of losing her independence. In honesty though, can you blame her? Every marriage she sees is unhappy. As she pushes Seldon away once again, she is still reeling from a stint covering for an affair. Beginning with her parents and ending with her current circle of friends, she has never seen a harmonious marriage.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapters XIII-XIV

As this point in the novel, we see Lily's perfect plans tearing at the seams a bit. Wharton twists the plot, utilizing the very human response of suspicion, to play characters against one another. Seldon watches two shadows meeting in the Trenor household at night, "...as the door opened and two figures were seen silhouetted against the hall-light," (Wharton, 169). Seldon's situation is summed up in Wynonna Judd's song I Saw the Light. Whether he takes the same course of action that she does will be determined later in the novel. Continuing, Gerty, currently hanging on every word dripped from Seldon's mouth, fears an affair between Lily and Seldon. Trenor also succumbs to believing gossip about Lily and Seldon, and Seldon suspects a romance between Trenor and Lily. At this point, Lily's precious power over the men in her life is slowly spiraling out of her desperate control. As we discover more about Seldon's early life, we realize how much he really does love Lily.

Wharton expertly presents a "domino effect" as each character realizes how they have been lied to, cheated, and ultimately used by Lily and her aimless ambition.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapters X-XII

Forgiveness is the central message of this section. Lily, having separated herself from the pressured social circle, chooses to forgive grudges against her social enemies. Even Bertha Dorset benefits from her lightened mood as Lily decides not to use the letters against her. She also moves to forgive her investor Trenor for spreading news of her financial success, which she feels is a personal success that reveals her independence. But, after this initial free feeling, Lily is confronted by Trenor who insinuates that she "owes" him something for initiating her investments. Trenor's own words paint a clear image of his ugly manipulations as he proposes an evening meeting with Lily, "But why can't we go off somewhere on a little lark together - a nice quiet little expedition like that drive at the Bellmont..." (Wharton, 123). Here lies a perfect example of the equality struggle that exists still today between men and women. Had Lily been a man, Trenor would never dare to ask for favors in return for a business investment. Why does business between two men carry different weight than that between a man and woman? A power struggle exists as women climb the ladders created by men, hitting the glass ceilings also created by men who have quite possibly read this book and found it socially acceptable to treat business dealings differently dependent on whether or not their client is wearing heels.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapter VIII-IX

In these chapters, we see the results of Lily's financial dealings with Gus Trenor as she receives her first checks (as a result of her request for Trenor to invest her remaining money in a last ditch attempt to find the money to pay off her gambling and shopping debts.) As Lily slowly moves into what she believes is financial independence, she slightly loosens her quest for a husband. Lily compares herself to the other ladies in her circle, pointing out their flirtatious tactics for financial security (ironically once hers) as inferior to her new found way to earn money. Her analysis of her peers adds to the local color of her society.

In chapter IX, Lily finds herself in possession of much power brought on in the form of letters between Seldon and Bertha Dorsett that spell out clearly a long-term relationship. Here, Whatron presents the irony of society. Just as Bertha used the skeletons in Lily's closet to harm her chances with Gryce, Lily can now use Bertha's past to harm her future in society. Lily recognizes this power and relishes in her new weapon, "the possessor of his wife's letters could overthrow with a touch the whole structure of her existence" (Wharton, 109). The past always catches up to you, both private and public actions have consequences.

I think that this lesson can be applied to the world of facebook today. If you don't want something to be discovered and discussed, don't write it down and send it out.

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapter VII

Here, Wharton again outlines how expertly Lily can read people. After a morning of gossiping, Lily finds that Gryce has left the Belmont because of rumors about Lily supposedly started by Bertha Dorset. As the conversation continues, Lily scoffs at the ignorance of money amongst her companions, realizing that once they have obtained it, they assume that it will always be there. In this segement, Wharton plays with Lily's stream of consciousness to allow the reader a look at her intelligence and vulnerability. Lily has the ability to translate people's emotions exemplified at the train station where she is collecting Gus Trenor. "She was aware also, from the look in his small, dull eyes, that the contact with her freshness and slenderness was as agreeable to him as the sight of a cooling beverage" (Wharton, 83).

Follow this link to see how well you are at reading people's facial expressions: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ei_quiz/

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapter VI

Lily travels through the phases of falling in love with Seldon in this chapter as she shares an afternoon with him in the gardens. Lily recalls her first time falling in love and describes "the sense of lightness, of emancipation, which she remembered feeling in the whirl of a waltz or the seclusion of a conservatory during the brief course of her youthful romance" (Wharton, 67). This chapter proves again how everything that Lily wants is just out of her grasp. Her first love married one of the Van Osburghs and his initially capturing looks faded into "stout and wheezy" (Wharton, 67). The symbolism of the loss of her first romantic endeavor ties into the theme of the novel in that everything that Lily is working towards and chasing after will disappoint her. Her quest for wealth has a deceiving end and what she wants is not as appealing as she thinks.

Lily's social status is still fragile as an unmarried woman and, knowing this, she will do anything to keep up the chase or wealth through marriage.