The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Okay, so the first part of chapter 2 was incredibly weird, right? Why would Nick want to meet Tom's mistress when he was related to Daisy, Tom's wife? That whole situation was just awkward, but Nick took it all in stride so I guess the times were just different in the 20's. Oh, and Tom actually converses with Myrtle's husband like no big deal--again, what a jerk! Their little "party" with the McKees and Wilsons was also weird and I was a little confused with what they discussed, but I don't think it had any real bearing on the overall plot. I think Ms. Baker is very strange and mysterious as a woman in the early 20th century because she openly discusses Tom's mistress with Nick when she should be scandalized at his behavior. I also like Myrtle, but she obviously shouldn't be running around married with a married man. [And then Tom broke her nose and it was no big deal...what the hell! culture difference again]
On Fitzgerald's style as a writer, I want to say that he, unfortunately, reminds me of Wharton a little because he just jumps around soooo much; his characters' dialogues jump around too, from one topic to something totally unrelated in the same scene. I find it pretty annoying, but for some reason it doesn't bother me nearly as much as Wharton's did in The House of Mirth. Other than the occasional randomness, I really enjoy the novel and his writing because of his diction. Two examples of beautiful writing are "This is a valley of ashes--a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air" (Fitzgerald, page 23) and "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (Fitzgerald, page 35). While easier to understand than Wharton (possibly because of the fifteen year time difference), Fitzgerald loses no beauty and complexity in The Great Gatsby.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
The Great Gatsby Chapter 1
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
With The Great Gatsby, I was not immediately intrigued as with The House of Mirth. The first chapter went pretty slow, and I thought that Nick, the narrator, was Gatsby at first until he actually mentioned Gatsby by name a few paragraphs into the story. The West Egg/East Egg contrast was very interesting, but the novel really picked up when Mr. Carraway visited Tom and Daisy Buchanan for dinner. I liked Daisy pretty well at first, but Tom seemed a little pompous and lived in the past [the football reference]. I also liked Ms. Baker and was really surprised that her first name was Jordan considering the novel was written in 1925 [I thought Jordan was more of a modern name].
The chapter also had some funny moments, as when Daisy asked if anyone missed her from her hometown, and Nick replied, "The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear wheel painted black as a mourning wreath, and there's a persistent wail all night along the north shore" (Fitzgerald, page 9). Oh, and I forgot Tom's mistress-- what a jerk!
I wonder maybe if Daisy has a little thing for Nick. They had a private conversation and later Nick claimed that she should "rush out of the house, child in arms" (Fitzgerald, page 20)-- possibly with him...
I also want to take a second and comment on a major difference between The House of Mirth and The Great Gatsby: the narrator and corresponding point of view. In the novel, Nick Carraway is the narrator and the story is written in first person, while the narrator was omniscient in The House of Mirth.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
With The Great Gatsby, I was not immediately intrigued as with The House of Mirth. The first chapter went pretty slow, and I thought that Nick, the narrator, was Gatsby at first until he actually mentioned Gatsby by name a few paragraphs into the story. The West Egg/East Egg contrast was very interesting, but the novel really picked up when Mr. Carraway visited Tom and Daisy Buchanan for dinner. I liked Daisy pretty well at first, but Tom seemed a little pompous and lived in the past [the football reference]. I also liked Ms. Baker and was really surprised that her first name was Jordan considering the novel was written in 1925 [I thought Jordan was more of a modern name].
The chapter also had some funny moments, as when Daisy asked if anyone missed her from her hometown, and Nick replied, "The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear wheel painted black as a mourning wreath, and there's a persistent wail all night along the north shore" (Fitzgerald, page 9). Oh, and I forgot Tom's mistress-- what a jerk!
I wonder maybe if Daisy has a little thing for Nick. They had a private conversation and later Nick claimed that she should "rush out of the house, child in arms" (Fitzgerald, page 20)-- possibly with him...
I also want to take a second and comment on a major difference between The House of Mirth and The Great Gatsby: the narrator and corresponding point of view. In the novel, Nick Carraway is the narrator and the story is written in first person, while the narrator was omniscient in The House of Mirth.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
The House of Mirth Book 2, Chapters 13 and 14
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
I want to spend my last blog posting over The House of Mirth discussing my overall opinion of the book. Wow! I was not really expecting it to end with Lily's death; I mean I understood that this was a tragedy but wasn't really prepared for death. It was really sad though, for Selden, but he finally realized that in death, they could finally put aside their differences and share in the love. "He knelt by the bed and bent over her, draining their last moment to its lees, and in the silence there passed between them the word which made all clear" (Wharton, page 268).
But anyway, I don't really know yet if I like or dislike this novel. There were many great, interesting parts, specifically the diction and details of certain scenes, but the novel also contained a lot of jumping around on the part of Edith Wharton when she was describing certain events and thoughts of the major characters. I'm still a little mad that Lily Bart did not at least get to share her love with Selden or marry him, but that goes along with the territory of a tragedy, especially from the typical writing of Edith Wharton, or so I've read. Like I have said in multiple posts, I prefer a sweet, romantic novel in which the hero loves the heroine and she returns his affections, but I do know that I cannot go through life without reading not-so-sweet stories, especially the classic tragedies, such as The House of Mirth. I suppose if I had to decide between liking and disliking the novel, I would say that I liked it. Disregarding some of Wharton's more sporadic passages, I loved the way that she wrote and wonder a little why she wasn't more successful as an author.
I learned while reading and researching this novel that there was a movie made in 2000 of The House of Mirth. I IMDB'd it and didn't really recognize many of the actors in the film, but I'm sure it is interesting and worth watching regardless. After I finish reading The Great Gatsby, I will have to watch both films and see how they compare with these two classic novels, if the characters, themes, and overall plots are similar or interpreted differently.
Edith Wharton
I want to spend my last blog posting over The House of Mirth discussing my overall opinion of the book. Wow! I was not really expecting it to end with Lily's death; I mean I understood that this was a tragedy but wasn't really prepared for death. It was really sad though, for Selden, but he finally realized that in death, they could finally put aside their differences and share in the love. "He knelt by the bed and bent over her, draining their last moment to its lees, and in the silence there passed between them the word which made all clear" (Wharton, page 268).
But anyway, I don't really know yet if I like or dislike this novel. There were many great, interesting parts, specifically the diction and details of certain scenes, but the novel also contained a lot of jumping around on the part of Edith Wharton when she was describing certain events and thoughts of the major characters. I'm still a little mad that Lily Bart did not at least get to share her love with Selden or marry him, but that goes along with the territory of a tragedy, especially from the typical writing of Edith Wharton, or so I've read. Like I have said in multiple posts, I prefer a sweet, romantic novel in which the hero loves the heroine and she returns his affections, but I do know that I cannot go through life without reading not-so-sweet stories, especially the classic tragedies, such as The House of Mirth. I suppose if I had to decide between liking and disliking the novel, I would say that I liked it. Disregarding some of Wharton's more sporadic passages, I loved the way that she wrote and wonder a little why she wasn't more successful as an author.
I learned while reading and researching this novel that there was a movie made in 2000 of The House of Mirth. I IMDB'd it and didn't really recognize many of the actors in the film, but I'm sure it is interesting and worth watching regardless. After I finish reading The Great Gatsby, I will have to watch both films and see how they compare with these two classic novels, if the characters, themes, and overall plots are similar or interpreted differently.
The House of Mirth Book 2, Chapters 11 and 12
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
Selden Lawrence is my favorite character in the novel, but he is not as active a participant in the overall plot as Rosedale is, so I will do him justice by devoting this post to him. When Sim Rosedale first came in the first chapter of the novel, I did not particularly liked him. He was annoying, pushy, flaunty, and seemed determined to gain Miss Bart's affection by butting into her life. I was immediately displeased and kind of cast him aside because I did not think he would turn out to be an important character, but he is. In chapter 7 of Book II, I grew to really like Rosedale [not as much as Selden, but almost] when he suggested Lily begin putting the letters she bought from the maid to good use by blackmailing Bertha Dorset. I never like her, and this seemed like a good proposition that would benefit nearly all parties involved, especially Lily and Rosedale. However, Lily rejected his proposal of marriage after she was back on good terms with Bertha Dorset and basically the entire society of people who had cast her off. I wish she would have taken him up on the offer because she would have been back in her prominent position in society, but I understand that she did not want Selden to be burdened by any of her decisions. "She seemed suddenly to see her action as he would see it--and the fact of his own connection with it, the fact that, to attain her end, she must trade on his name, and profit by a secret of his past, chilled her blood with shame" (Wharton, page 247).
Edith Wharton
Selden Lawrence is my favorite character in the novel, but he is not as active a participant in the overall plot as Rosedale is, so I will do him justice by devoting this post to him. When Sim Rosedale first came in the first chapter of the novel, I did not particularly liked him. He was annoying, pushy, flaunty, and seemed determined to gain Miss Bart's affection by butting into her life. I was immediately displeased and kind of cast him aside because I did not think he would turn out to be an important character, but he is. In chapter 7 of Book II, I grew to really like Rosedale [not as much as Selden, but almost] when he suggested Lily begin putting the letters she bought from the maid to good use by blackmailing Bertha Dorset. I never like her, and this seemed like a good proposition that would benefit nearly all parties involved, especially Lily and Rosedale. However, Lily rejected his proposal of marriage after she was back on good terms with Bertha Dorset and basically the entire society of people who had cast her off. I wish she would have taken him up on the offer because she would have been back in her prominent position in society, but I understand that she did not want Selden to be burdened by any of her decisions. "She seemed suddenly to see her action as he would see it--and the fact of his own connection with it, the fact that, to attain her end, she must trade on his name, and profit by a secret of his past, chilled her blood with shame" (Wharton, page 247).
Sim Rosedale, on the more technical side of study, is definitely a round, dynamic character because he displays multiple aspects of his personality and maturity throughout the novel. He is somewhat nosy and bothersome in the beginning but actually changes with his prowess in society and comes to really care for Lily and want her to change her position by regaining friendships from her old life. His most significant actions in the novel are his personal offer of marriage to Lily and his business offer to help her pay off her debts to Trenor; unfortunately for him, she rejects his proposal of marriage yet again. So as Rosedale changed in the novel, I grew, as a reader, to really like him and his role in the overall plot line of The House of Mirth.
The House of Mirth Book 2, Chapters 9 and 10
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
So, stupid me, I didn't really recognize that this scene between Miss Bart and Gus Trenor alone at his house was the climax of the novel. I guess I kept waiting for something a little more exciting to happen, and when it didn't, I did an overview of the middle of the novel and realized my mistake. I usually do have a little more trouble deciding on the climax of longer novels, especially those written over a hundred years ago, as was the case with The House of Mirth. Anyway, the second half of the book made a little more sense after I corrected my mistake, but I still don't see why Trenor did not pursue Lily any longer after she left for Europe, and even when she arrived back in America. He seemed pretty persistent before this meeting with Lily, and then after it, nothing... Book II contains the falling action and resolution of the novel--Lily's fall from good graces in society, her new job, and eventual death without ever marrying Lawrence Selden.
The structure of the novel is pretty simple and straightforward. It contains 29 chapters, each consisting of smaller sections with breaks in the passages to allow for tone and point of view shifts. Fifteen chapters make up the slightly longer Book I, which makes sense as it contains the climax, and Book II has the remaining fourteen chapters. A common pattern throughout the novel is a description of many different characters in each chapter. Wharton, the omniscient narrator with an objective point of view, relates various events with different characters and leaves out specific scenes so that the audience can make some leaps and bypass any gaps in the plot. An example of her omniscient narration is "She [Lily] was sure that Gerty knew Selden's feeling for her, and it had never dawned upon her blindness that Gerty's own judgement of him was coloured by emotions far more ardent than her own" (Wharton, page 142). This sporadic transitioning from one scene to the next is sometimes pretty hectic but make for an enjoyable read after one understands just what Wharton wanted to promote.
Edith Wharton
So, stupid me, I didn't really recognize that this scene between Miss Bart and Gus Trenor alone at his house was the climax of the novel. I guess I kept waiting for something a little more exciting to happen, and when it didn't, I did an overview of the middle of the novel and realized my mistake. I usually do have a little more trouble deciding on the climax of longer novels, especially those written over a hundred years ago, as was the case with The House of Mirth. Anyway, the second half of the book made a little more sense after I corrected my mistake, but I still don't see why Trenor did not pursue Lily any longer after she left for Europe, and even when she arrived back in America. He seemed pretty persistent before this meeting with Lily, and then after it, nothing... Book II contains the falling action and resolution of the novel--Lily's fall from good graces in society, her new job, and eventual death without ever marrying Lawrence Selden.
The structure of the novel is pretty simple and straightforward. It contains 29 chapters, each consisting of smaller sections with breaks in the passages to allow for tone and point of view shifts. Fifteen chapters make up the slightly longer Book I, which makes sense as it contains the climax, and Book II has the remaining fourteen chapters. A common pattern throughout the novel is a description of many different characters in each chapter. Wharton, the omniscient narrator with an objective point of view, relates various events with different characters and leaves out specific scenes so that the audience can make some leaps and bypass any gaps in the plot. An example of her omniscient narration is "She [Lily] was sure that Gerty knew Selden's feeling for her, and it had never dawned upon her blindness that Gerty's own judgement of him was coloured by emotions far more ardent than her own" (Wharton, page 142). This sporadic transitioning from one scene to the next is sometimes pretty hectic but make for an enjoyable read after one understands just what Wharton wanted to promote.
The House of Mirth Book 2, Chapters 7 and 8
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
Now, I want to discuss the author as the speaker/narrator of The House of Mirth. Edith Wharton is an omniscient, third-party observer of the story who follows the thoughts and actions of all major characters involved in the plot. In chapters 7 and 8 specifically, Wharton discusses Lily Bart's, Carry Fisher's, Rosedale's, Gerty Farish's, and Selden's. For instance, we learn of Mrs. Fisher's motives with taking Lily under her wings and we also see Lily's reactions to her ideas. Carry wants Lily to get married to either George Dorset or Sim Rosedale, and she finally resolves to marry Rosedale. Unfortunately, he rejects her this time but with an interesting proposal; he would marry her if she blackmailed Bertha with the letters she wrote to Selden. "The only way for you to start fresh is to get Bertha Dorset to back you up, instead of trying to fight her" (Wharton, page 209). I think she should have taken Rosedale up on his offer because it's not like Bertha didn't deserve a little manipulation after what she did to Lily in Europe. I still don't really understand why Bertha publicly snubbed Lily and blamed her for their marital problems in Europe because she obviously did not ruin the Dorsets' marriage. Wharton did, however, retain Bertha's thoughts, so we are left to determine her stream of thoughts and feelings throughout this whole ordeal, which was interesting to the audience.
I personally like this type of narration because it offers the view of every character, and we as the audience are able to know the entire story and how everyone perceives everyone else. This style of writing greatly contrasts with some other books I've read [the Harry Potter series first comes to mind because J. K. Rowling only displays Harry's thoughts and feelings and how he perceives everyone else], but I enjoy the difference.
Edith Wharton
Now, I want to discuss the author as the speaker/narrator of The House of Mirth. Edith Wharton is an omniscient, third-party observer of the story who follows the thoughts and actions of all major characters involved in the plot. In chapters 7 and 8 specifically, Wharton discusses Lily Bart's, Carry Fisher's, Rosedale's, Gerty Farish's, and Selden's. For instance, we learn of Mrs. Fisher's motives with taking Lily under her wings and we also see Lily's reactions to her ideas. Carry wants Lily to get married to either George Dorset or Sim Rosedale, and she finally resolves to marry Rosedale. Unfortunately, he rejects her this time but with an interesting proposal; he would marry her if she blackmailed Bertha with the letters she wrote to Selden. "The only way for you to start fresh is to get Bertha Dorset to back you up, instead of trying to fight her" (Wharton, page 209). I think she should have taken Rosedale up on his offer because it's not like Bertha didn't deserve a little manipulation after what she did to Lily in Europe. I still don't really understand why Bertha publicly snubbed Lily and blamed her for their marital problems in Europe because she obviously did not ruin the Dorsets' marriage. Wharton did, however, retain Bertha's thoughts, so we are left to determine her stream of thoughts and feelings throughout this whole ordeal, which was interesting to the audience.
I personally like this type of narration because it offers the view of every character, and we as the audience are able to know the entire story and how everyone perceives everyone else. This style of writing greatly contrasts with some other books I've read [the Harry Potter series first comes to mind because J. K. Rowling only displays Harry's thoughts and feelings and how he perceives everyone else], but I enjoy the difference.
The House of Mirth Book 2, Chapters 5 and 6
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
Lily Bart, Lawrence Selden, Sim Rosedale, Gus and Judy Trenor, George and Bertha Dorset, Carry Fisher, Mrs. Peniston, and Gerty Farish--the major characters in the novel. Although the characters of a novel are not as vital as the overall themes, they do convey the author's purpose, so they are definitely worth studying in detail. Lily Bart is the protagonist, the main character, the heroine. I said in my first post, that she would probably be a dynamic character, but this is not true; she never really changed her morals and principles and still desires wealth and a prominent position in society. Selden, our hero, is often the object of our pity because Miss Bart never acknowledges her love for him and continually rejects him. I would say that Bertha Dorset is the antagonist in the novel, but she really symbolizes society as a whole which expects certain things from its members, Lily in the story. The stock character, or stereotype, in the novel is the expectation society places on its most prominent members--wealth and status. Most of these characters are considered static because we are not privy to their multiple dimensions and growth throughout the novel. Lily Bart, and perhaps Rosedale, are, I think, the only round characters in The House of Mirth. She displays multiple aspects of her personality throughout the novel: she desperately seeks the approval and praise of her fellow citizens, cannot deal well with impending debts, loves Selden but continually rejects him because of his financial situation, also rejects poverty, reads others well, and is, in my opinion, a little conceited and bratty. Sim Rosedale changes throughout the novel and matures his status in society. He also wanted to marry Lily but changed his mind once her personal life became well known and gossip swarmed around her. Although the characters seem important, the central themes in the novel, the desire for wealth and status and forfeiting love for other desires in life, promote the real purpose Wharton's novel.
Edith Wharton
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| http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/house-of-mirth/character-map.html |
The House of Mirth Book 2, Chapters 3 and 4
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
This section of the novel really encompassed Wharton's writing style and displayed some beautiful and very well-written passages. I often enjoy her writing of individual parts, so I want to take some time to focus on her style as a female writer in the early 1900's. Chapter III begins with very long, complex sentences and long paragraphs, describing the thoughts of both Lawrence Selden and Lily Bart. This variation of syntax allows Wharton to give us many details and present the streams of conscience of both the hero and heroine. Her narrative writing is characteristically beautiful in these two chapters, yet she still jumps around a bit from scene to scene. Since that is obviously a major component of her style, I will not complain any more and will try to focus instead on her diction and the flow of individual paragraphs. She adds to the descriptions of events many important analogies: on page 171, "like a dangerous lunatic who has been drugged" and "wash his hands of the sequel." More often though, are Wharton's little bits of beautiful diction throughout her writing. Just a few from this section of the novel include: "a labyrinth of courses" (Wharton, page 174), "apoplectic majesty" (Wharton, page 175), "struggling misery of her face" (Wharton, page 177), "like some deposed princess moving tranquilly to exile" (Wharton, page 177), "a well-kept family vault, in which the last corpse had just been decently deposited" (Wharton, page 181), and "the full height of her slender majesty, towering like some dark angel of defiance above the troubled Gerty" (Wharton, page 182). The list goes on and on from there. Other details include an oxymoron on page 174, "showy dullness of conversation," which plays the dual role of explaining society's behavior and Lily's opinion of it.
I also want to take back what I previously said about Miss Bart because I realize I was kind of harsh on her; I'll never truly understand her predicament and I probably would feel the same pressures she did if I experienced her situation. I really did feel bad for Lily when she did not get the inheritance she was expecting from her Aunt Julia because although she made a few mistakes, she did deserve what she had been promised for probably many years. [And that's another thing. We did not know Mrs. Peniston died for about for or five paragraphs at the start of Chapter 4, which annoyed me, but that's a part of her style, I guess. I need to adjust me reading to fit her style because this is a classic and others look past this flaw and get to the storyline.
Edith Wharton
This section of the novel really encompassed Wharton's writing style and displayed some beautiful and very well-written passages. I often enjoy her writing of individual parts, so I want to take some time to focus on her style as a female writer in the early 1900's. Chapter III begins with very long, complex sentences and long paragraphs, describing the thoughts of both Lawrence Selden and Lily Bart. This variation of syntax allows Wharton to give us many details and present the streams of conscience of both the hero and heroine. Her narrative writing is characteristically beautiful in these two chapters, yet she still jumps around a bit from scene to scene. Since that is obviously a major component of her style, I will not complain any more and will try to focus instead on her diction and the flow of individual paragraphs. She adds to the descriptions of events many important analogies: on page 171, "like a dangerous lunatic who has been drugged" and "wash his hands of the sequel." More often though, are Wharton's little bits of beautiful diction throughout her writing. Just a few from this section of the novel include: "a labyrinth of courses" (Wharton, page 174), "apoplectic majesty" (Wharton, page 175), "struggling misery of her face" (Wharton, page 177), "like some deposed princess moving tranquilly to exile" (Wharton, page 177), "a well-kept family vault, in which the last corpse had just been decently deposited" (Wharton, page 181), and "the full height of her slender majesty, towering like some dark angel of defiance above the troubled Gerty" (Wharton, page 182). The list goes on and on from there. Other details include an oxymoron on page 174, "showy dullness of conversation," which plays the dual role of explaining society's behavior and Lily's opinion of it.
I also want to take back what I previously said about Miss Bart because I realize I was kind of harsh on her; I'll never truly understand her predicament and I probably would feel the same pressures she did if I experienced her situation. I really did feel bad for Lily when she did not get the inheritance she was expecting from her Aunt Julia because although she made a few mistakes, she did deserve what she had been promised for probably many years. [And that's another thing. We did not know Mrs. Peniston died for about for or five paragraphs at the start of Chapter 4, which annoyed me, but that's a part of her style, I guess. I need to adjust me reading to fit her style because this is a classic and others look past this flaw and get to the storyline.
The House of Mirth Book 2, Chapters 1 and 2
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
The first chapter in Book II was, to me, the most sporadic and confusing part of the entire novel. Some parts I enjoyed and understood well, but then the novel would jump to a completely unrelated scene and go into great detail about it, abandoning the original scene. So, Wharton began the second half of the novel, randomly in my opinion, with Selden on the Casino steps; we got no preface for his purpose there and no explanation of Lily's decision to sail with the Dorsets [we just assume she goes with them]. On page 150, Wharton left out Selden's reaction to the news of Lily Bart's sailing with the Dorsets and docking nearby, which was extremely annoying to me because the audience were privy to the thoughts of nearly every major character up until that point, and I think this was a major thought to leave unattended for the reader. Later, we learned of Selden's resolve to not see Miss Bart because it was too difficult and she would most likely reject him yet again. He claimed that "he could trust himself to return gradually to a reasonable view of Miss Bart, if only he did not see her," (Wharton, page 153). I loved this contradiction of Selden's view of Lily which totally made sense and was very well written of Edith Wharton. [Throughout the novel, I realized that her diction, syntax, and writing overall is very beautiful and thought-provoking, but I am not as fond of the plot. Her jumping around is a annoying, and she often leaves out important pieces of the plot, which I suppose can be construed as part of her style.] However, other sections of chapters 1 and 2 made hardly any sense to me, such as on page 155-6 where Wharton rambles on about the "tyranny of the stomach" and on page 160 when Mrs. Fisher discusses the "nearest thing to smash." Both parts really confused me, so I reread the passage, yet I was just as confused the second time. This probably comes from the hundred year difference between the novel's publication and our study of it this summer.
Edith Wharton
The first chapter in Book II was, to me, the most sporadic and confusing part of the entire novel. Some parts I enjoyed and understood well, but then the novel would jump to a completely unrelated scene and go into great detail about it, abandoning the original scene. So, Wharton began the second half of the novel, randomly in my opinion, with Selden on the Casino steps; we got no preface for his purpose there and no explanation of Lily's decision to sail with the Dorsets [we just assume she goes with them]. On page 150, Wharton left out Selden's reaction to the news of Lily Bart's sailing with the Dorsets and docking nearby, which was extremely annoying to me because the audience were privy to the thoughts of nearly every major character up until that point, and I think this was a major thought to leave unattended for the reader. Later, we learned of Selden's resolve to not see Miss Bart because it was too difficult and she would most likely reject him yet again. He claimed that "he could trust himself to return gradually to a reasonable view of Miss Bart, if only he did not see her," (Wharton, page 153). I loved this contradiction of Selden's view of Lily which totally made sense and was very well written of Edith Wharton. [Throughout the novel, I realized that her diction, syntax, and writing overall is very beautiful and thought-provoking, but I am not as fond of the plot. Her jumping around is a annoying, and she often leaves out important pieces of the plot, which I suppose can be construed as part of her style.] However, other sections of chapters 1 and 2 made hardly any sense to me, such as on page 155-6 where Wharton rambles on about the "tyranny of the stomach" and on page 160 when Mrs. Fisher discusses the "nearest thing to smash." Both parts really confused me, so I reread the passage, yet I was just as confused the second time. This probably comes from the hundred year difference between the novel's publication and our study of it this summer.
Friday, July 13, 2012
The House of Mirth Book 1, Chapter 15
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
The scene where Lily asks Aunt Peniston to help her with her debts is very interesting because I really expected her aunt to take care of things, or at least give her suggestions as to how she can take care of her serious debts. However, I am glad that Aunt Peniston refused to help Lily with her debt to Trenor because she should never have made the deal with him, but I cannot relate because I've never been in a position where I need to be so involved in society. And then Rosedale walked in. I never really liked Rosedale because he is so annoying, pushy, and into Lily's business. Lily definitely should have let her aunt or a maid answer the door in case it was Rosedale, Trenor, or someone else with whom she did not wish to speak. I guess I should have known that Rosedale would make an appearance here or soon because he was present at various important scenes in the novel, and he had money which is still what Lily desires. I'm annoyed with her persistence with attaining wealth and maintaining her status (which is seemingly deteriorating) in society because if I were in her shoes, I would choose love over money, Selden over a Rosedale. However, I do appreciate Lily's means of refusing him, and I think she still has some hope for Selden and love because Rosedale has all the money she would need and she still rejects him. She uncharacteristically sounds humble and non-conceited when she says, "I have been careless about money, and have worried about my bills. But I should be selfish and ungrateful if I made that a reason for accepting all you offer, with no better return to make than the desire to be free from my anxieties" (Wharton, page 145). This actually sounds nice; normally, I think Lily is too focused on her goals to stop and think about others' feelings. Maybe, she will mature and give up her goals of wealth in exchange for love.......probably not.
Edith Wharton
The scene where Lily asks Aunt Peniston to help her with her debts is very interesting because I really expected her aunt to take care of things, or at least give her suggestions as to how she can take care of her serious debts. However, I am glad that Aunt Peniston refused to help Lily with her debt to Trenor because she should never have made the deal with him, but I cannot relate because I've never been in a position where I need to be so involved in society. And then Rosedale walked in. I never really liked Rosedale because he is so annoying, pushy, and into Lily's business. Lily definitely should have let her aunt or a maid answer the door in case it was Rosedale, Trenor, or someone else with whom she did not wish to speak. I guess I should have known that Rosedale would make an appearance here or soon because he was present at various important scenes in the novel, and he had money which is still what Lily desires. I'm annoyed with her persistence with attaining wealth and maintaining her status (which is seemingly deteriorating) in society because if I were in her shoes, I would choose love over money, Selden over a Rosedale. However, I do appreciate Lily's means of refusing him, and I think she still has some hope for Selden and love because Rosedale has all the money she would need and she still rejects him. She uncharacteristically sounds humble and non-conceited when she says, "I have been careless about money, and have worried about my bills. But I should be selfish and ungrateful if I made that a reason for accepting all you offer, with no better return to make than the desire to be free from my anxieties" (Wharton, page 145). This actually sounds nice; normally, I think Lily is too focused on her goals to stop and think about others' feelings. Maybe, she will mature and give up her goals of wealth in exchange for love.......probably not.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The House of Mirth Book 1, Chapters 13 and 14
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
"I did play a trick on you; I own up to it; but if you think I'm ashamed you're mistaken. Lord knows I've been patient enough--I've hung round and looked like an ass. And all the while you were letting a lot of other fellows make up to you..." (Wharton, page 117).
Gus Trenor is such a creeper! Okay, well, it's not like he tried anything with Lily when she went over to his house, but it is 1905 and Edith Wharton could never have written about anything too forward. It is a lot different than a modern book where this scene definitely would not have ended so innocently as this one did. When Gus told Lily that his wife was not home, I was actually a little scared for Lily, then I remembered that nothing too bad could happen in a novel written so early, and obviously she was not physically injured. Regardless, he was still creepy and forward for the time. I think that this scene is a little unrealistic because Gus talks like he loves Lily and demands attention from her, yet he didn't really do anything about it (not that I wanted him too, obviously).
I'm still a little confused about whether or not Lily borrowed money from Gus, or just "investment tips," and I think he should be upset because she ignores him in public and does not spend time with him. But seriously, what did Lily expect when she made the deal with Trenor? Did she think that he would take it lightly and let her borrow nearly $9,000 without repayment...uhhhh, reality check Miss Bart
Edith Wharton
"I did play a trick on you; I own up to it; but if you think I'm ashamed you're mistaken. Lord knows I've been patient enough--I've hung round and looked like an ass. And all the while you were letting a lot of other fellows make up to you..." (Wharton, page 117).
Gus Trenor is such a creeper! Okay, well, it's not like he tried anything with Lily when she went over to his house, but it is 1905 and Edith Wharton could never have written about anything too forward. It is a lot different than a modern book where this scene definitely would not have ended so innocently as this one did. When Gus told Lily that his wife was not home, I was actually a little scared for Lily, then I remembered that nothing too bad could happen in a novel written so early, and obviously she was not physically injured. Regardless, he was still creepy and forward for the time. I think that this scene is a little unrealistic because Gus talks like he loves Lily and demands attention from her, yet he didn't really do anything about it (not that I wanted him too, obviously).
I'm still a little confused about whether or not Lily borrowed money from Gus, or just "investment tips," and I think he should be upset because she ignores him in public and does not spend time with him. But seriously, what did Lily expect when she made the deal with Trenor? Did she think that he would take it lightly and let her borrow nearly $9,000 without repayment...uhhhh, reality check Miss Bart
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The House of Mirth Book 1, Chapters 10 through 12
Edith Wharton
This section of the novel was a little boring until the Tableau vivants, which I thought was really cool. I did not really understand what was going on at first [I hadn't looked up the term yet]. When Wharton initially described the idea, I thought that the women were actually going to dress up as the people in the paintings and put on a real live-painting show. So naturally, I thought of Gilmore Girls, one of my favorite T.V. shows. In episode 4.7, the town has a Festival of Living Pictures which has people dress up for the paintings and stand in the correct poses for like 30 seconds each. This looks really fun, as did Mrs. Fisher's in The House of Mirth. However, Mrs. Fisher's Tableau vivants is different from Stars Hollow's because it contains actual paintings of the women posing in the famous portraits. Modern Family also did something like this in episode 3.23 where Alex had her family take part in a famous Rockwell painting for her school. Again, not exactly like Mrs. Fisher's, but still pretty cool.
Although the Tableau vivants was really neat, my favorite part of this section was the very last bit of chapter 12 where Selden took Lily outside to the back patio with him and told her that he loved her. "'The only way I can help you is by loving you.'" Although she rejected him (again), they still kissed, possibly for the first time. It is obvious from the description of her feelings that she loves him too, but she still cannot ignore society's wishes of her, which is starting to get annoying.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The House of Mirth Book 1, Chapters 8 and 9
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
So I want to focus on Mrs. Peniston for a while because I like her and she seems somewhat important to the story and Lily's decisions. I do want to confess, though, that I could not even remember who this woman was for a few paragraphs in chapter 9 until Wharton mentioned Lily Bart. [On a side note, The House of Mirth is sometimes very confusing because of all the different characters, and I often find myself looking back through previous chapters to remember someone and what their purpose in the overall plot is.] As Lily's aunt, Mrs. Peniston is responsible for her funds and her achievements in society. As a prominent woman, she must maintain a clean and respectable household; Wharton claimed "she sought for moths as the stricken soul seeks for lurking infirmities." She is also very interested in what other members of society are doing, like the wedding in chapter 8. When I read this part, I immediately thought of Lady Danbury from the Bridgerton Series, one of my all-time favorites by Julia Quinn which I will probably refer to with this novel many times in the future because many aspects parallel each other. Although the Bridgerton novels all take place in England in the early- to mid-1800's, society remains the same-- judgmental, critical, and demanding of all its prominent members. Lady Danbury is one of the funniest characters in the series because she always speaks her mind, fears no one, judges everyone, manipulates many, and seems underhandedly in control of everyone/thing in society. I know that Mrs. Peniston does not have that exact position in society, but she does want to know everything about what happens and with whom these things happen. She is obviously annoyed when Lily cannot recall minute details of the ceremony, although she did not even want to attend the event herself. Lily chose to stay with her aunt for a longer period because she did not want to return to Bellomont and she did not receive many other invitations from her other "friends," but I think she would have rather stayed with them, if just to appease society's standards.
The novel is a little boring right now, but I think it will become more exciting as Lily discovers her purpose and, possibly, finds herself a husband (hopefully Selden, but not very likely). I love sweet novels where the heroine ends up marrying the hero, like in the Bridgerton novels, but I know that The House of Mirth will probably not end this way.
Edith Wharton
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| The Bridgerton Series |
The novel is a little boring right now, but I think it will become more exciting as Lily discovers her purpose and, possibly, finds herself a husband (hopefully Selden, but not very likely). I love sweet novels where the heroine ends up marrying the hero, like in the Bridgerton novels, but I know that The House of Mirth will probably not end this way.
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