Wealthy and Wise

Throughout chapters three and four of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, I learned more about the complex life of Lily Bart. Lily's gambling problem is disclosed in chapter three and I believe that her gambling will prove to be a recurring point throughout the novel. "To be poor seemed to her such a confession of failure that it amounted to disgrace; and she detected a note of condescension in the friendliest advances" (Wharton, 26). This quote shows that Lily does not think highly of those who are poor. She grew up in a wealthy family and this lifestyle is the only lifestyle that she has ever known. When she lost a great deal of money gambling, Lily was forced to realize that she may have to live her life poorly. To Lily, the "poor" and "impoverished" lifestyle was not for her. Her mother knew that when Lily was young that Lily would be able to use her beauty to find a man who would keep her high social status. Beneath the care of her mother, Lily grew up learning to enjoy material goods. I think Lily's struggle to stay within the confines of the circle of wealth will become a key theme throughout the book.