Complexity of the Finest

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Chapters 2, 3, & 4

"She liked to think of her beauty as a power for good, as giving her the opportunity to attain a position where she should make her influence felt in the vague diffusion of refinement and good taste" (Wharton, pg. 27)

As I was reading through the story of Lily's past and present life, I could not help but think that it compared so closely to the story line of the television show, Desperate Housewives. From the complete dependance of wealth expressed by Lily's mother much like the life of the women of Wisteria Lane. Her mother is thriving for money from a husband who cannot keep up with her. Although not specifically stated, I am sure her mother's attitude after her dad announced they were ruined, buried him. He was ruined monetarily but ruined emotionally by his wife who only cared for the money he put in her pocket. The relationship of her mother to Lily and Lily's father made me feel pity for Lily as her mother told her to use her beauty to get her money for her future.

Farther along in the reading, I once again became quite disappointed in the actions of Lily. She was given a life for which she could find a husband but has pushed herself too far. She is unsure of who she really wants to marry and if she should only marry for money. I cannot find the words to explain that she has made herself into a fake Lily that needs to realize that she will end up just like her mother if she plans to be a type of "gold digger" for money that she does not need to survive. She just wants money to be a wealthy person of her time to hang out with people that only care for money in the world. 

As far as the writing goes, there are wonderfully written portions that I feel give the innermost detail of the place and event whereas other portions seem to leave me lost and confused. Likewise, in the conversation between Lily and Mrs. Trenor seemed to display the immense complexity of the class in which they belong. I was throughly confused and lost as a bunch of names were listed along with the issues they have at hand, almost as if I was reading myself into a daily Soap Opera such as General Hospital.