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.