The Art of Conversation

     Lily is an expert in conversing; this is the idea Wharton plants within the first two sections of The House of Mirth.  In truth, conversation serves as a type of career for Miss Bart.  At this point, we already know, somehow, she gets everything she wants.  She utilizes her face as a type of tool to aid her in receiving the desired responses.  I believe this aspect of Lily to be most obvious in her conversation with Mr. Percy Gryce in the train.  Without knowledge of her financial issues, the audience can conclude that Lily gets what she wants through her majestic ability at covert manipulation.  However, this learned ability is not necessarily something to take pride in.  The thought that she has to work even in the slightest to stay afloat is abhorrent to Lily.  A woman like her cannot afford to marry for love--but who, in Lily's world, does that anyway?  Marriage stands as a business deal.  In my opinion, the married women of this time merely stood as mannequins of their husband's wealth; there is little regard for them as valuable factors of society.  All Lily can think about is becoming the most decorated mannequin in New York even though "it was a hateful fate--but how escape from it?  What choice had she?"  (Wharton, 19).