The House of Mirth

by Edith Wharton

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Summary

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The House of Mirth unfolds in the elite circles of New York City, where Lily Bart navigates a world governed by wealth and social status. An encounter with Laurence Selden leads her to question her pursuit of a rich husband. Her entanglements bring both financial opportunities and perilous repercussions as she struggles to maintain her reputation.

A Fateful Encounter

At the start, Lily Bart misses a train to a house party hosted by her friends Judy and Gus Trenor, leading her to an unexpected meeting with Laurence Selden. Despite societal norms warning against such actions, Lily visits Selden's apartment for tea. Once she boards the train, Percy Gryce, a wealthy yet uninspiring matrimonial prospect, becomes the focus of her charms. Her efforts to ensnare him falter when she opts for a stroll with Selden, who joins her at Bellomont specifically to see her. Selden's influence causes Lily to reassess her mercenary marriage intentions, causing her dissatisfaction with the prospect of marrying Gryce. She returns to New York, hopeful that Gus Trenor's financial acumen will help grow her modest savings.

Prosperity's Price

Trenor's assistance yields quick monetary gain for Lily, resulting in a $10,000 windfall. Yet, the financial boost comes tangled with Trenor's unwanted advances. Separated from his wife, he tricks Lily into visiting his home under false pretenses, revealing he expects her to reciprocate his financial generosity with intimacy. Determined to safeguard her reputation, Lily resolves to repay Trenor, even though she remains unsure of how to secure the necessary funds.

Complicated Affections

While Lily's bond with Selden deepens, she also possesses letters of affection written by Bertha Dorset to Selden. On the verge of Selden proposing to Lily, he misinterprets her rushed departure from the Trenors' as evidence of an affair with Gus. Distressed, Selden departs for Europe, leaving Lily to learn of his absence through the press. Simon Rosedale soon proposes to her but finds his offer rejected. In this turbulent time, a call from Bertha Dorset inviting Lily on a Mediterranean journey offers a temporary escape.

The Mediterranean Interlude

Embarking on a voyage with Bertha and George Dorset, Lily becomes an unwitting pawn in Bertha's marital manipulations. Tasked with distracting George, Lily's presence allows Bertha to pursue another affair. In Monte Carlo, Selden implores Lily to abandon the Dorset yacht, but she remains loyal to her supposed friend. When Bertha returns late one morning, George, his suspicions aroused, consults Selden about initiating a divorce. Bertha deftly deflects blame onto Lily, accusing her of neglect and manipulation. By evening, reconciled with his wife, George castigates Lily. At a public dinner, Bertha cruelly ostracizes Lily, insinuating inappropriate behavior towards George.

Back to New York

Upon her return, Lily is met with the death of her Aunt Julia. Contrary to expectations, the inheritance is a mere $10,000, earmarked for her debts to Trenor, while the rest is left to her cousin, Grace Stepney. Bertha's return to New York precedes Lily, and malicious rumors spread, isolating Lily from her social circle. Carry Fisher, sympathetic to Lily's plight, helps her find work with nouveau riche families, though stability eludes her. Despite Carry's insistence that marrying George Dorset could provide security, Lily refuses to entangle herself in further scandal. Desperate measures lead her to agree to marry Rosedale, only to have him retract his proposal due to her tarnished status. He suggests blackmailing Bertha with her letters, promising marriage if she complies, but Lily declines.

Struggling for Independence

Lily takes a job as Mrs. Hatch's secretary but finds the environment distasteful. Selden, concerned, urges her to leave before their relationship sours. Lily eventually...

(This entire section contains 754 words.)

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resigns and tries her hand at hatmaking, a job for which she is ill-suited and soon loses. An encounter with Rosedale reveals the depths of her decline, as he offers her a business loan to repay Trenor. She refuses, unwilling to compromise her integrity again.

A Final Attempt for Redemption

Determined to resolve her financial woes without succumbing to manipulation, Lily heads to the Dorset household, letters in hand, intending to blackmail Bertha. Instead, she visits Selden, seeking solace and assistance. Their conversation rekindles past affection, though unspoken, but Selden remains aloof. In a moment of resolution, Lily burns the damning letters in Selden's fireplace, choosing honor over vengeance. That evening, she dedicates Aunt Julia's bequest to settling her debt with Trenor, signaling a new beginning. Tragically, this resolve coincides with an accidental overdose of sleeping medication. Selden arrives too late, bearing the words of love he wished to share, only to find Lily beyond reach.

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