In Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, elements of naturalism are used to show how the protagonist Lily Bart's life is controlled by her struggle between love and money. According to Encarta's electronic encyclopedia, "naturalistic writers regard human behavior ... Lily Bart is obviously controlled by economic conditions and emotion. She wants nothing more than to be accepted by the high society of New York. Although Lily was raised in an upper society family, she knows the only way for her to remain in that society is to marry a rich man. Even though she could ... is to marry a rich man. Ther...

• Word Count: 622
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... about walking to Suffern along the Erie track and how every time they walk they pass by the old house. He makes us think that he feels sorry for it and every time he passes he stops to look at it. He says "I never have seen a haunted house, but I hear there are such things; That they hold the talk of spirits, their mirth and sorrowings", to set ... a sort of scary, dark, tragic tone. Then they go on to tell us that it is not haunted by saying, "I know this ... house isn't haunted, and I wish it were, I do; For it wouldn't be so lonely if it had a ghost or two", this sets the tone back ...

• Word Count: 376
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... the novel, The House of Mirth, Lily Bart's character changes mentally, emotionally and socially. She starts out as a witty, charming, and beautiful young lady, whom is liked by all, but she ends up lonesome and afraid. She is not able to live up to her mother's teachings in becoming a wealthy, married women, and will give way to the fate of an outcast. The character of ... matter. Lily tried to use her beauty to help her, which it did for a while, but at the end of the book her beauty and charm only hurt her. All of her friends wanted nothing to do with her because they thought that she ...

• Word Count: 1119
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School