The House of Mirth Naturalism

SUBJECT: ENGL 415 (Studies In American Lit.)

TEST#: 02

NAME: Hassan Ali Hasan

ID#: 20113091

SEC#: 01

DATE: 22 MAY 2016

WORD-COUNT: 1322        

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton can be classified as a naturalistic novel due to it having the following elements. The first trait is determinism. This can be seen in the character of Lily Bart, whose father’s death triggered her urge or need for wealth and because of this need, which she cannot control, we see Ms. Bart always flirting with high class people and searching for a wealthy man to get married to despite the fact that she loves Selden, but she rejected his marriage proposal because he has no money. Also, the fear of her childhood, which is poverty, can be a reason behind her need for money ‘Her danger lay, as she knew, in her old incurable dread of discomfort and poverty.’ (Wharton, 2002). Another example of this trait would be where Lily’s mother tries to get revenge by using Lily’s beauty to marry into richness.  In addition, Lily’s mother sees her dead husband, Mr. Bart, as a bag of money and does not appreciate what he has done throughout his life to her. In other words, he fulfilled his purpose, therefore, he is useless now ‘He had become extinct when he ceased to fulfil his purpose’ (Wharton, 2002). Another trait of naturalism is heredity determines character. Lily Bart’s love of money and wealth did not come from nowhere, her mother is in love with being rich as she thinks that being poor is shameful. Thus, Lily got her love of money or luxury from her mother. The final element of naturalism is the survival of the fittest. This is seen in the character of Mrs. Dorset, who survives throughout the novel from the bad things she did such as her gossip about Lily and the affair she wants to have with Ned Silverton, whereas, Lily falls from the society because she is not fit nor have the social position to stay.

The House of Mirth can be recognised as a novel of manners because it has some novel of manners elements. The first element is that it deals with people in a society. This is obvious in the House of Mirth since throughout the novel we see the characters living and interacting in a certain society. Also, the novel examines values, customs of a society. An example of it would be where Lily does not associate with working class people because high class people do not do that. Another example is when Lily’s aunt, Mrs. Peniston, describes her gambling as ‘horror’, which shows that such an act is unacceptable for women in that society. ‘Cards--you've played cards for money? It's true, then: when I was told so I wouldn't believe it. I won't ask if the other horrors I was told were true too;’ (Wharton, 2002). Furthermore, the House of Mirth deals with women, marriage, and money, this is considered an element of novel of manners. For example, the central character of this novel is Lily Bart, who is a woman. Also, Mrs. Dorset, who is a woman, can also be a central character because she is important to this society and that she is influential. Moreover, the novel has a lot of money indications and its importance in society. An example of it would be where Mr. Trenor lends Ms. Bart some money. Also, the categorisation of new money like the Brys Family or old money such as the Dorsets. Moreover, money is power in this society. This is seen in the incident of the yacht where Mrs. Dorset is believed over Ms. Bart simply because Lily does not have money nor the social position of Mrs. Dorset. Finally, marriage is considered to be an element of novel of manners because from the beginning until the end of the novel we see Lily searching for a wealthy husband. Also, the novel contains many events of marriage, examples of it would be, Selden’s marriage proposal to Lily and Rosedale’s marriage proposals to Lily.