At the beginning of part 11, we learn that due to the usual labor cuts that happen in the spring and Lily's poor quality at her job, she is laid off. Now with no more steady income, Lily also has the drudgery of deciding how she will fill her empty days. Miss Bart decides to go for a walk and while out she strolls into a restaurant where her eyes are met by the sight of a group of young ladies having a jolly time. They are so caught up in their current activity that none of them comes to realize Lily Bart's presence. A girl who was once the centre of all praise and attention, now, "her eyes sought the faces about her, craving a responsive glance, some sign of an intuition of her trouble" (Wharton 245).
Later Lily is soon filled with resolved, when she decides to finally play the upper-hand that she before relinquished to utilize on her late adversary. On her way over to Mrs. Dorsets, however, Lily happens to wander by Selden's apartment. I believe this instance is a part of the book that clearly symbolizes the fork in Lily's road when she now must chose between two contrasting ideals. However, her possible choices have much obscured from simply luxury or love; now it takes the form of many other areas, such as revenge and vice vs. reunion and virtue. Remembering her longing to protect Selden, she resolves to go up and see him. Sadly for Lily, although Selden is glad to see her and wishes to remain her friend. The fire he had once had for her was now vanquished; "The love she had killed in him and could no longer call to life" (Wharton 251). Before she goes she sets fire to the letters that she previously planned to bend the will of Mrs. Dorset.
To the lost love between Selden and Lily:
No comments:
Post a Comment