| In U.S.A.'s literature history, among the writers who reproduce thehigh society life of New York between the end of the 19th century and thebeginning of 20th century, no one can transcend Edith Wharton. It was herlong masterpieces The House of Mirth that really made her enter U.S.A.'soutstanding novelist's ranks. It causes not only the sensation after the novel ispublished, but also the critic's extensive concern. Through the inspection oftime, the value of this works has got more and more certainty and praise .Andto its great place: Have succeeded in moulding Lily Bart this true vividclassical image, people have reached common understanding. But all pastcomments are set up on a common starting point: to define "the tragedy ofLily" in her homeless agony and tragically death. They fail to excavate outthe deep intension which the author wants to express through the surface ofthis story: The tragedy of Lily is really lies in being spiritual homeless. In 1905, the high society of old New York had already totallypermeated by the upstart of industrial revolution. One society which pursuesfashion and material comfort was born, it was man and money that decidedthis society. It is extremely difficult that the woman without money has afoothold in this man right society. Lily Bart, the woman protagonist of TheHouse of Mirth is just such an unfortunate role. Father's bankrupt and thepassing away of parents make her become a homeless orphan. She becomehigh society rich senhora' accompany thanks to her beauty and cleverness,her function is to support rich and powerful men viewing, admiring andplaying. But in Wharton's view the terrible one than such sad "ornament" 35role is that Lily lacks more valuable spiritual home. At the beginning of the 20th century and the end of the 19th century,the money was changing people's values and moral concept gradually andbecome "new bishop" in daily life with the development of capitalisteconomy. What people paid close attention to is not that innerself-examination, pious practice, but acquisition of the material, sensualcomfort. Lily is certainly no exceptional. Lily was affected by mother deeplywhile as a child, regarded the value standard of life as luxurious enjoyment.She have no religion and serious, valuable traditional idea, thus she have noprinciple to follow. In fact this kind of spiritual homelessness is the basicreason for her tragedy. Lily have no conscientious understanding of the loss of spiritual homeat the beginning, but the existence predicament "had to depend on for aliving" is wanted to change wholeheartedly by her. Her method is asuccessful marriage. "The house of mirth" regards man as the sign, standard,and organizational factor. The outlet of women who are among this civilorder is to marry a rich and man. And the indubitable reality is, women canonly obtain the happiness sense in "entering the order". Then in the wholeworks, we have seen the course of Lily's long and difficult climbing up. Butshe did not understand whether she could success not determined by herselfin fact, but depend on the men ruling this society. On the other hand, thedifficult place that hinders Lily from leading to success, there is one reason ofherself even more. Though the highest values that Lily has accepted is moneyand material comfort since childhood, she does not totally admit to it in heart.Selden's "Republic of the spirits" makes her realize that for the first time:There is another kind of nobler cultural life outside the luxurious material life 36and a more beautiful spiritual home outside the happy big family of the highsociety. Then, on the husband's choice, to be more precise it is on the choiceto outlet of Lily's life, the new direction has appeared. Outside the pursuit tothe material wealth, she has begun to search the spiritual home, too. When... |
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