The House of Mirth: Blog 9

      As I conclude Book 1 of The House of Mirth, I realize that Lily has found herself in a truly unfortunate and  complicated situation.  First, Miss Bart's serious financial debts from gambling are revealed to her aunt, Mrs. Peniston.  Then, Mr. Rosedale tells Lily of his knowledge of Mr. Trenor's financial assistance to her.  On top of that, Mr. Trenor is angered by Lily's distaste for him causing her to sense that she owes him.  Next, Mr. Rosedale has been spreading rumors of a secret affair between Mr. Seldon and Lily.  In addition, the town knows of Lily's relationship with Mr. Trenor.  For someone who wishes desperately to be a member of high society, Lily is quickly obliterating her reputation and the respect people have for her.  To make matters worse, Mrs. Peniston is willing to pay off Lily's owed clothing money, but has left her to deal with her gambling debt.  Also, now Lily must find a new home as Mrs. Peniston deems her a disgrace.  Lily Bart has undoubtedly gone from bad to worse.  Miss Bart is left alone, homeless, buried and debt, and "...sunk lower than the lowest" (Wharton, 135).

     The last chapters of Book 1 remind me so much of the movie, Uptown Girls.  In this film, a grown up woman, Molly Gunn, wakes up to a life of turmoil.  After the death of her wealthy mother and rock star father, Molly is swallowed in debt due to her carefree shopping.  Like Lily Bart, Molly was never appreciative of the comfortable life she led until it was swept from beneath her.  Molly Gunn's behavior towards money leads her to a very similar situation to that of Lily Bart. Molly finds her in bad relationships that have no true value or meaning. Both Lily and Molly do not know what they have until it is gone.  In the end of Uptown Girls, Molly works out debts by getting a job and selling the items that she no longer has use for.  Molly discovers worth and value in her life when it is no revolved around money.  I can only hope that Lily Bart has this sort of an awakening and recognizes how foolish she has been.