10. Lily's Evolution

The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton

Lily has evolved from a highly manipulative temptress to a desperate woman trying to grasp the remnants of luxury that still linger in her life. She craves, as she always has, to be both popular, and wealthy. So of course, her very last option and only potential connection to the popular bubble she wishes to be in is through Rosedale, "Beat about the question as she would, she knew the outcome of it was that she must try to marry Rosedale..." (Wharton, 20). Her final reach up from her fall of grace is with a man that actually repulses her, "Yes, he would be kind- Lily from the threshold, had time to feel- kind in his gross, unscrupulous, rapacious way, the way of the predatory creature with his mate" (Wharton, 202). Rosedale is grossly obsessed with social status as Lily is, and now ironically, he dismantles his proposal to her even now that she has accepted.

This whole section is painfully ironic, and she seems to get what she deserves, but Rosedale still pushes her to fight for her reputation, even through the use of blackmail. He suggests she blackmail Mrs. Dorset (which would especially work for Lily- she could sweep up Mr. Dorset and take him off to marry right then and there). What Lily has the heart to realize is that Seldon is at major risk in the hypothetical blackmail scenario. Her unwillingness to hurt Seldon is what protects him and Mrs. Dorset.