The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
Chapters III & IV, pages 168-187
Lily Bart's world has crumbled around her. She is rejected by the society which had included her only months beforehand. She is neglected by her caregiver and is subsequently faced with an almost unbareable financial situation.
This is the first time that we begin to see a change in Lily; her change from a more or less static character into a round character. Earlier in the story, Lily was concerned with her own betterment by marrying rich, but as the marriage of her companions, the Dorsets, begins to fall apart, she offers her hand to help save the couple. However, she is cast out from their social graces and forced to retreat to her only remaining friends, Selden and Gerty. With "the pale bravery of her recovered smile," Lily holds her head up and continues to live (Wharton, 176).
She, now destitute, can relate to Gerty in a new way. She no longer looks down on the woman for her meager finances but rather accepts the fact that she will be living in even worse conditions than what she once thought was below her comfort level.
Another change we see within Lily is that money, although still important, does not rule her anymore. Upon receiving the inheritance from her aunt, Lily maintains her composure and even politely talks to the others. It's a refreshing change in the conceited character of Lily Bart, and I am interested to see how it develops.
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