Lily Bart: The Feminist's Failure

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how although Edith Wharton chooses a female protagonist and presents issues sympathetic to the unique vulnerabilities of women, "The House of Mirth" applies itself far better as a social commentary than as a feminist manifesto. In particular, it looks at how while the society within the novel- that of New York during the Gilded Age- victimizes Lily Bart and drives her to her death, it does not discriminate by gender as to who bears responsibility. It discusses how Wharton shows us, through Lily's carefully constructed relationships with men; her vacant, unsatisfying relationships with women and also through her dramatic death scene a neutral, unmotivated narration that bears no resemblance whatsoever to feminist propaganda.

From the Paper:

"Given their nearly voluntary impotence, Lily's destruction occurs without any intervention from her female peers. Only Gerty Farish and Carry Fisher, in fact, display any empathy, and society would hardly have considered them peers of Lily at the opening of the novel. According to Elizabeth Ammons, the system is designed to keep women in divisive and relentless competition for the money and favor controlled by the men. Forbidden to aggress on each other directly or on men at all, women prey on each other- stealing reputation, opportunities, male admirers- all to parlay or retain status (1). In The House of Mirth, this system succeeds. The women Lily once interacted with now prey upon her, and the language used in such situations reflects this."

More papers on Lily Bart: The Feminist's Failure:

• Book Review # 34057 : "The Feminist Movement"
• Book Review # 122433 : "Lily Bart in "The House of Mirth"
• Analytical Essay # 148823 : "Analyzing Lily Bart in "The House of Mirth"

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