by Edith Wharton
Book 1, chap V-VI
"They stood silent for a while after this, smiling at each other like adventurous children who have climbed to a forbidden height to which they discover a new world" (Wharton, 59).
The thing that strikes me about this quote is that it is a simile that seems to compare their actual location to where they are emotionally. Lily never truly acts on an impulse, she prefers to plan out her whole future. Thinking about being married to Selden is so drastically different from the settled and comfortable life Lily had planned with Mr. Gryce that it seems to her an exciting adventure. This time period of the 1900's is one of financially-based marriages as opposed to marriages based on love. Lily and Selden's intellectual and emotional discussion is strongly in contrast with the targeted and dull conversation previously held by Lily and Mr. Gryce on the train. While Lily and Mr. Gryce's conversation was completely controlled by Lily so that she could make an impression on Mr. Gryce and make him comfortable with and attracted to her, her conversation with Selden was free, uncontrolled and actually had a spark. Mr. Gryce simply rambled on about his Americana collection while Selden and Lily talked about life and the future, deep subjects. Lily has real feelings for Selden and this is shown in the author's detailed description of the defining and unique characteristics of Selden in addition to the fact that Lily pleaded out of her planned-out walk with Mr. Gryce so that she could spend the day with Selden, who came to Bellomont just to see Lily. Lily's confusion about her future that arises during her time with Selden is clearly shown when she turns to him quickly and asks, "Do you want to marry me?" Although Lily had been hard set on working on marrying Mr. Gryce because of his money and place in society, this quote shows that she does not have romantic feelings for Mr. Gryce but instead for Selden. Lily's partnership with Mr. Gryce would be out of necessity, but at this time Lily realizes that she might want more. It will be interesting to see whether Lily's need for a set future full of financial comfort and a guaranteed husband will override her growing feelings for Selden, though he may not be able to give her everything she wants in the way of material things.
On a side note, the detailed description of the nature that serves as the background for Selden and Lily's trek sounds similar to certain places I came across during Summer Field Studies. One beautiful place I was lucky enough to visit was the Grand Canyon. And when I got there, I decided to read The House of Mirth.
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| Me, reading The House of Mirth on the tip of a rock on the edge of the Grand Canyon |
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