Revenge and Envy

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Chapters 9 & 10

As Wharton continues the quest through Lily Bart's story, many descriptive passages lead to the foreshadowing and telling of the story. When Mrs. Haffen stopped by to see Lily, a foreshadowing of events was brought on by the description of Mrs. Haffen herself as follows: "Lily, to whom the name conveyed nothing, opened the door upon a woman in a battered bonnet, who stood firmly planted under the hall-light. The glare of the unshaded gas shone familiarly on her pockmarked face and the reddish baldness visible through thin strands of straw-coloured hair. Lily looked at the charwoman in surprise" (Wharton, page 82). The line describing Mrs. Haffen led me to believe that the situation in which Lily found herself was not going to be a pleasant one that would end well. In fact, this very encounter brought me to a theme in the book that I noticed seemed to show up a lot. 

Revenge or in my mind, black mailing, seems to be a prominent factor in the lives of these upper class people. Specifically as mentioned in the book, "...she has a vision of the elaborate machinery of revenge which a word of this commanding young lady's might set in motion" (Wharton, page 86). Lily remarks that she must keep the letters she received from Mrs. Haffen to be able to use them later as a way to get back at Bertha Dorsett for corresponding with Selden. Furthermore, in many instances previously in the novel, Lily must be careful who she corresponds and spends time with as many people talk. Many people of her time use these instances to get back at others and cause others turmoil. Likewise, "The girl was evidently nervous, and Mr. Rosedale, if he saw no other means of advancing his acquaintance with her, was not above taking advantage of her nervousness" (Wharton, page 93). As I continued through these chapters, more and more instances of people making potential revenge seem to be evident and act as a way for people to acquire what they want out of another. 

Envy as another theme seems to rock the people of Lily's people. Everyone seems envious of another which also seems counteracting to some of the people so persistent on going to church. Much like today, people go to church but do not follow what they preach. "She pictured herself leading such a life as theirs - a life in which achievement seemed as squalid as failure - and the vision made her shudder sympathetically" (Wharton, page 90).