"The House of Mirth" and "Little Women"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the similarities between Lilly in Edith Wharton's novel, "The House of Mirth" and Jo in Louisa May Alcott's novel, "Little Women". The paper explains that in the beginning of these stories, both women have very clear ideas of what they think will bring them happiness and success. The paper claims that by the end of each novel, each woman discovers, through experience and maturity, that what they once believed to be true was no longer so.

From the Paper:

"The experience of life fosters maturity and certain realizations that are almost always a surprise. Two literary female characters that demonstrate how this notion operates is Jo March from Louisa May Alcott's novel, Little Women and Lily Bart in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth. In the beginning of these stories, both women have very clear ideas of what they think will bring them happiness and success. However, by the end of each novel, each woman discovers, through experience and maturity, that what they once believed to be true was true no longer. In Little Women, Jo discovers that her success lies in being a wife and a mother. In The House of Mirth, Lily realizes that marrying a rich and successful man will not bring her the happiness she longs for."

More papers on "The House of Mirth" and "Little Women":

• Analytical Essay # 130517 : "Fleeing the House of Horrors" and Canadian Women"
• Book Review # 122433 : "Lily Bart in "The House of Mirth"
• Analytical Essay # 16223 : "Wharton's "The House of Mirth"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: