The House of Mirth

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

284

Title

The House of Mirth

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in New York's high society, Edith Wharton's masterpiece follows Lily Bart, a beautiful but impoverished young woman navigating the treacherous social ladder. As she balances charm against financial desperation, her relationships with the ambitious Percy Gryce and the idealistic Lawrence Selden are tested by scandal and the ruthless demands of the season.

Summary up to 500 words

In Edith Wharton's *The House of Mirth*, the narrative follows Lily Bart, a woman of impeccable taste and social grace who finds herself trapped in the unforgiving economy of New York high society. Possessing beauty and wit but lacking a substantial dowry, Lily navigates a world where a woman's value is strictly tied to her marriage prospects. Her journey is defined by a desperate struggle between maintaining her independence and securing the financial security that society deems essential for her survival. Lily's options are limited by the rigid expectations of her peers and the harsh reality of her economic vulnerability. She faces pressure from Percy Gryce, a powerful man who offers stability in exchange for her complete submission, and from Lawrence Selden, a man who admires her spirit but is plagued by doubts regarding her social standing and the potential scandal of their relationship. The plot intensifies when Lily's past indiscretion with Gus Trenor, a wealthy merchant who exploited her financial desperation, threatens to destroy her reputation. When Trenor attempts to blackmail her, she is forced to flee to avoid public disgrace. As the social season progresses, Lily's resources dwindle, and her attempts to maneuver through the social minefield become increasingly difficult. She seeks a husband who values her for herself rather than her dowry, but the rigid class structures make this impossible. The narrative culminates in a tragic conclusion where Lily's fate is sealed not by a lack of charm or intelligence, but by the cruel intersection of her poverty, her past mistakes, and the unforgiving nature of the society she inhabits. Her decline serves as a poignant commentary on the fragility of a life built on social capital rather than substance, highlighting the limited options available to women of her class who attempt to assert their individuality against overwhelming societal pressure.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/284.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg284.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-06 01:05 UTC

Categories

• Psychology
• Fiction
• Social Classes
• Single Women