The House of Mirth, Book One, Sections V and VI

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Finally! In sections V and VI of Book One, Lily finally begins to understand how superficial her material desires, and the society of people around them, really are.  After quickly identifying her peers' pretentious qualities at the Bellomont, Lily has an epiphany when she realizes that, rather than being exciting and "full of brilliant qualities", her high-society acquaintances "were merely dull in a loud way" (Wharton 44).  This sudden change in Lily solidifies her as a dynamic or round character.  Furthermore, after coming to her realization, Lily begins to question her once inevitable marriage to Percy Gryce in favor of courtship with a man she now sees in a new light: Lawrence Selden.  The external conflict between Bertha Dorset and Lily Bart manifests as they both seek Selden's company, but Lily prevails in this instance.  After breaking off plans with Gryce, Lily and Selden are free to spend an afternoon together.



Lily asking Selden for a cigarette

During Lily and Selden's afternoon excursion, Selden becomes the "friend who won't be afraid to say diagreeable [things]" that Lily wished for in section I (Wharton 6).  For the first time, a character, Selden, confronts Lily about her skills in manipulation and how she applies them to achieve her goals.  However, Selden approaches the subject admiringly, saying, "It's part of your cleverness to be able to produce premeditated effects extemporaneously" (Wharton 53).  This confrontation and further questioning about her material desires changes Lily and shifts her romantic pursuits toward Selden.  Moreover, throughout Lily and Selden's conversation, Wharton has the two employing elevated diction in witty retorts to each other's comments to show that conversation with Selden, unlike Lily's dialogue with Gryce, is stimulating, personal, intelligent, and enjoyable to Lily.  Perhaps this foreshadows Lily's complete disassociation with Gryce in favor of a life with Selden.  The setting, a beautiful nature scene where Lily feels at peace, could also hint to Lily's future repugnance with the materialism and wealth that a life with Gryce embodies.  Regardless, Lily's attraction to Selden has thrown a monkey wrench into The House of Mirth that will no doubt cause interesting twists in future sections.