The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Miss Lily Bart and Mister Lawrence Selden

     In the first fraction of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, the audience is introduced to Ms. Lily Bart and Mr. Lawrence Selden (although I don't believe his first name is given until much later in the novel).  The manner in which Wharton elects to familiarize her audience with these two is somewhat engaging.  We meet Ms. Bart through the eyes of Selden and vice versa.  Through Selden's perspective, we view Lily Bart as what could be referred to as a "flat character" in the way that her beauty appears to be merely skin-deep.  Selden acknowledges that "the qualities distinguishing her from the herd of her sex were chiefly external" (Wharton, 3)  He moves forward to remark her mere "glaze of beauty" which suggests his placement of her under a stereotype of upper-class New York women.  In short, she is unremarkable.  Through Ms. Bart's eyes, Selden serves rather insignificant himself; he is a common man with no remarkable qualities.  He is disposable.  How could these two possibly be friends?

 "...what I want is a firend who won't be afraid to say disagreeable ones [things] when I need them?"  (Wharton, 6).

     As the deeper conversation begins, one may notice the ease at which these two speak to each other: no fear, no preoccupations of what the other might think.  This type of open conversation, at this time is history, was only common among friends.  She openly admits to him all her material cravings and how she can not wait to live a life of freedom.  In my opinion, this type of life seems more trapping than it is liberating.