New Place but Same Scene

The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
Book II

Beginning the second book of The House of Mirth, many familiar characters find themselves together in France. This change in setting gave Lily a sense of freedom from the troubles she faced back home. "The Dorsets' invitation to go abroad with them had come as an almost miraculous release from crushing difficulties...change from one place to another seem, not merely a postponement, but a solution of her troubles" (Wharton, 157). Despite this change in setting, Lily is not truly free of the problems she previously faced. This is evident by the familiar characters who surround Lily. Her vacation is simply a different backdrop to the same scene in a play. An example of the social problems which she still faced is the argument she held with Bertha Dorset. Bertha felt that Lily's decision (to take the train alone with Mr. Dorset instead of waiting for others to arrive as planned) was the cause for the hysterical fit that George Dorset encountered. Lily, even though away from Trenor and the problems that he presented, still encounters petty problems with people who seem to be her friends. Perhaps now Lily is even more trapped than she was before because she must maintain the good friendship with the Dorsets who brought her on the trip. She cannot afford to make enemies while this far from home because unlike in New York, here she has many fewer options of places to take sanctuary if some type of argument leads to her removal from under the Dorset's care. Her time in France may be a beautiful sight, but she still faces money problems, jealousy, and resentment. These problems may be less easily fixed here rather than at her home. In the coming chapters, I hope that Lily will be aware of these potential problems and will avoid crossing anyone.