Blog #4

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Analysis over chapters 5 and 6

As the events at Bellomont continue to progress, so does the relationship between Lily Bart and Lawrence Selden in chapters five and six. The combination of light weather and the approaching autumn season inspire Lily to take part in impulse and truancy. Although her first and more responsible plan was to attend church and impress the wealthy bachelor, Mr.Gryce, Lily was contrarily guided to take a more blissful route. This rapid change in setting, from high class parties to wooden paths and gardens, seem to symbolism the potential change in Lily's demeanor. Before this point in the novel, Lily was undoubtedly consumed with the lust for wealth, but after a few run ins with Mr.Selden, a desire to live freely arises in Lily as well. Walking with Selden, gazing at the "sunlit pasture" and "the lingering green of an oak grove", Lily's mood begins to correspond with the surrounding nature. Lily thinks to herself, "She found something of herself in the calmness, its breadth, its long free reaches."(Wharton, 51). Experiencing this glimpse of abandonment, Lily discovers her sense of buoyancy and emancipation. She is constantly battling between what she truly wants and what she thinks she needs. She wants to be free like Lawrence, to attain the "personal freedom" Selden describes as success, but at the same time, she is overly obsessed with the glamour and security that comes with wealth. I know Lily loves Selden though, and I think she would give up wealth to be with him...I can't help but feel a great deal of pity for Mr.Selden because he is so aware of the fact that he cannot provide Lily with the life she craves. Selden admits to Lily, "Isn't it natural that I should try to belittle all the things I can't offer you?"(Wharton, 58). Their forbidden loves continues to tug at my girlish heart and I can't help but hope they end up together.