Monday, August 6, 2012

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/

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