Another Sleeping Beauty: Narcissism In The House Of Mirth
Gilbert 1 Mrs. Minogue
Gender Studies C
March 30, 2012
Immaturity As A Result of Society’s Limitations in The House of Mirth In her scholarly article entitled “Another Sleeping Beauty: Narcissism in The House of Mirth” Joan Lidoff asserts that the character of Lily Bart in the novel The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, “like many other heroines, act out a cultural dilemma: when society provides no adult female role of active responsibility and initiative, women are confined to passive and childlike states and cannot mature.” I agree with Lidoff’s claim after careful analysis of four key moments in the novel, which include: Lily’s acceptance of Lawrence Selden’s offer to join him for tea alone in his apartment, …show more content…
Lily initially accepts the invitation and then declines it, choosing a walk with Selden, whom she does not see as an eligible husband because of his lack of wealth, over Gryce. This is the perfect example of her greediness, an extremely immature quality. Lily constantly complains about needing a wealthy husband to take care of her, but when the opportunity presents itself she ruins her chances, blaming her actions on the lack of love their union would contain. On the other end of the spectrum there is Lawrence Selden, whom she is in love with, and who reciprocates her feelings; but she also denies the thought of marrying him because he has no money. Her desire for wealth prevents her from committing to Selden, and vice versa her love for Selden prevents her from committing to any of her suitors. She constantly sabotages herself, believing that she can do better, that she can find someone with both qualities: wealth and love. Lily is a selfish character whose “own emotional structure prohibits her from any possibility of receiving from or giving to others” (Lidoff 525). She is never willing to compromise, showing how childish her character truly is and leaving her with nothing in the
Gender Studies C
March 30, 2012
Immaturity As A Result of Society’s Limitations in The House of Mirth In her scholarly article entitled “Another Sleeping Beauty: Narcissism in The House of Mirth” Joan Lidoff asserts that the character of Lily Bart in the novel The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, “like many other heroines, act out a cultural dilemma: when society provides no adult female role of active responsibility and initiative, women are confined to passive and childlike states and cannot mature.” I agree with Lidoff’s claim after careful analysis of four key moments in the novel, which include: Lily’s acceptance of Lawrence Selden’s offer to join him for tea alone in his apartment, …show more content…
Lily initially accepts the invitation and then declines it, choosing a walk with Selden, whom she does not see as an eligible husband because of his lack of wealth, over Gryce. This is the perfect example of her greediness, an extremely immature quality. Lily constantly complains about needing a wealthy husband to take care of her, but when the opportunity presents itself she ruins her chances, blaming her actions on the lack of love their union would contain. On the other end of the spectrum there is Lawrence Selden, whom she is in love with, and who reciprocates her feelings; but she also denies the thought of marrying him because he has no money. Her desire for wealth prevents her from committing to Selden, and vice versa her love for Selden prevents her from committing to any of her suitors. She constantly sabotages herself, believing that she can do better, that she can find someone with both qualities: wealth and love. Lily is a selfish character whose “own emotional structure prohibits her from any possibility of receiving from or giving to others” (Lidoff 525). She is never willing to compromise, showing how childish her character truly is and leaving her with nothing in the