Chapters 5-6

These two chapters of Wharton's The House of Mirth scream the difference between Lily Bart's relationship with Selden and her relationship with Gryce.  She is so clearly torn between the man she wants, and the money she needs. 

Lily's relationship with Gryce is based upon lies and facades.  From the moment Lily decided to use her skills to snag Gryce as a husband, she fed him lies about herself and her life.  He believes she never smokes, he is under the impression that she despises gambling, and he is falsely impressed by Lily's supposed devotion to attending Sunday services.  Lily cannot be her true self around him because of the web of lies she's spun in order to entice him.  How can one hope for a happy marriage or life with someone that's based upon lies?  But, as I'm coming to realize more and more, marriage at this time was usually strictly strategic; a game of survival and security rather than passion and love.

Everything is different with Selden.  Lily is able to speak with him about worries and thoughts of which she can confide in no one else.  Their conversations are always playful, but they can easily discuss serious matters as well.  They are both enchanted by the other, Selden by Lily's beauty, and Lily by "Selden's distinction that he had never forgotten the way out" (Wharton, 43) of the materialistic trap everyone else had been eternally claimed by.  If Selden were wealthy, Lily would waste no time in marrying him, as they both are clearly interested in doing so.

Will Lily choose money and comfort, or love and happiness?