The House of Mirth: Lily's Broke

Desperate times call for desperate measurers, or so the saying says.  In Lily's case, this saying is spot on.  Carry Fisher advises Lily to marry as soon as possible, and Lily (along with her depleted finances) agrees that this is necessary.  Her two option, according to Carry, are either George Dorset or Simon Rosedale, both of which are not particularly appealing to Lily.  She outright refuses the suggestion to confirm to George Dorset his suspicions of her affair with Ned Silverton and therefore break up their marriage for the sole purpose that he might marry her in return.  However, the idea of marrying Rosedale is more acceptable. I really wish that Selden would make a reappearance because now would be the opportune time.  I wonder if Lily would take a marriage proposal from him more seriously now that she is no longer included in the top social community.  But, Lily chooses to pursue Rosedale since she is sure he still is very attracted to her, although her falling from her previous social status is no help to her cause.  I cannot imagine living in a society in which people care so much about what others think.  I think i mentioned this in an earlier blog, but it simply baffles me.  I would hate that environment with the constant pressure to live up to the expectations of others and then the gossip and humiliation if you don't.  In a way, high school is a milder form of this, but  by no means wake up every morning with my main concern being to impress others.  I certainly like to look nice and buying new clothes to wear is fun, but if that were my main concern in life I think I would be about as miserable as Lily seems, if not more.  Lily's omnipresent need for the luxurious rules her decision making.  She ends up alone with Simon Rosedale as they take a walk down a street in New York.  Lily tells Simon that she will marry him, and it is now he that hesitates.  I am hoping that something will happen to prevent their marriage, especially because Lilly's thoughts wander to Selden as she walks with Simon, reminiscing the walk she once took with him.  If I knew that I loved someone, I would not be able to force myself ion marrying someone else.  That is why there is so many marriage problems among the elite in The House of Mirth, all of them marry in order to reap the benefits of their spouse.  No one marries for love so they hardly feel bad cheating on them, unless, God forbid, rumors started and their social status was harmed.

This is how most women in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth are except that they are more attracted to their husbands' money than anything else.

Rosedale, being no different from the rest of the elite New York society, is hesitant to marry Lily because he is aware that the most highly thought of women in New York are disconcerted with her because of recent events.  Bertha Dorset absolutely despises her and is actually still trying to hurt her social status, which is ridiculous because it is her fault that the rumors between her husband and Lily were started in the first place.  She know perfectly well that there is nothing suspicious going on between the two and resents only Lily's knowledge of her affairs.  I cannot stand this woman.  Simon proposes another offer to marrying Lilly, that they be "good friends", "'What is your idea of being good friends?' she returned with a slight smile. 'Making love to me without asking me to marry you?' Rosedale laughed with a recovered sense of ease. 'Well, that's about the size of it, I suppose'"(Wharton, 206).  He suggests this unless she repairs her friendship with Bertha.  If I were Lily, he probably would have been slapped right across the face then and there.  Edith Wharton is really great at creating characters for me to dislike.  Who does he think he is speaking about the beautiful Miss Lily Bart is such a way? In the end, the only thing established is that Lily's financial woes will not be addressed any time soon.