Blog #7

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Analysis over chapters 9


I just didn't like this chapter- the dark dreariness of it just depressed me and bored me. The setting of this chapter, Mrs. Peniston's house, creates a dull and dry aspect to the novel that corresponds well with Lily's feelings. Due to her less than fortunate experience at the Van Osburgh wedding, Lily takes refuge at her aunt's house to indulge in her self disgust. After hearing of the engagement of Mr.Gryce and Ms.Van Osburgh, she feels less than adequate.

The foreshadowing in this chapter plays a key role of maintaining interest for the reader. Lily receives the letters from Mrs. Dorset to Mr. Selden and at first it appears she is going to do the respectful and wise thing and destroy the letters, but after the growing pain of animosity toward Mrs.Dorset, she decides to keep them. It's more than obvious she intends to use these letters as blackmail, but I'm unsure as to how she will execute this potential threat to aid in Mrs. Dorset's downfall. What could Lily do that would ruin Mrs.Dorset's reputation? And what could Lily do with these letters that wouldn't hurt Selden as well? I'm hoping she has not stooped low enough to sacrifice Mr.Selden's well being solely for revenge. Lilly fell short of good moral when "She no longer meant to destroy them; that intention had been effaced by the quick corrosion of Mrs. Peniston's words."(Wharton, 89). I have a strong inclination that this will not end well.