THE ORNAMENTAL STATUS OF WOMEN WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LILY BART
The House of Mirth extensively deals with Lily Bart’s struggle to become a part of the rich aristocratic upper class. Though Lily does not belong to the elite society she pretends to be one. She compels herself to appear wealthy by wearing costly clothes and acquiring costly habits like gambling. She lives beyond her means and this may seem ridiculous to the ordinary reader. Why should Lily opt for something that is simply impossible for a girl like her? We must note that Lily’s mother perpetuates the belief that appearance is everything for a woman and that marriage is the only way by which a woman can earn material comfort for herself. She says “ People can’t marry you if they don’t see you- how can they see you in these holes where we’re struck?”Lily imbibes the thought that it would be meaningless to lead a life like a pig. Lily well understands she will never be able to survive in the society without wealth. Having lost money and status after her father’s death Lily uses her beautiful stature to achieve her means. Outward appearance outweighs substance if one is a woman and particularly if one is a woman without money. Thus Lily allows herself to be objectified to reach her goal. Her very name has a decorative connotation. Lily symbolizes feminity and ornamentation. Her last name Bart carries the word art within it which again indicates a material object. Incidentally Lily is the flower of death and she lives up to her name. Even the onlooker admires Lily as an object. “As a spectator Selden had always enjoyed Lily.” Lily herself comments about the decorative function of women in the novel. While having tea with Selden she says “Your coat’s a little shabby- but who cares? It doesn’t keep people from asking you to dine. If I were shabby no one would have me.” This is the real difficulty a woman faces in a materialistic society. Lily is fully aware that she is being treated as an object for she freely admits to Selden that she is “very expensive and must have a great deal of money.” When she hopes to marry Gryce understands that Gryce will possess her like his Americana the one possession he takes pride to spend money on. Lily inspite of her abhorrence towards the ornamental life style is not able to detach herself from it. The very fact that Lily prefers Gryce to Selden is because the latter is very modest and does not belong to the elite society. Lily is fully conscious of the class, status and behaviour she is supposed to acquire and maintain to sustain her position in the society . Lily hopes to get a rich husband by investing money for enhancing her appearance and refining her style of life.
In this novel a woman has no self outside her social set. Lily is always worried about what others will feel about her. Lily even tries to suppress her real feelings such that there may be no stress marks on her face which will make her less attractive .We find her in her room contemplating whether to lead a life like Gerty Parish or be a part of the elite society she detests. Suddenly she notices some lines on her face and exclaims, “ I must stop worrying.”One very good example to show that lily Bart is not her self is the episode where Lily after her brief stay in Benedick comes across Rosedale.Without prior information that Rosedale is the owner of the building, Lily tells him a lie that she had been to her dress -maker. Later she repents for her act. This is how Whaton describes her condition. “Lily was sure that within twenty four hours the story of her visiting her dress–maker would be in active circulation among Mr. Rosedale‘s acquaintances.”Lily is frank and free only with Selden, which is evident in the first chapter. She understands that even her friends of the elite circle do not care about her. Her real nature is observed only by Selden and Gerty Farish.
A woman is just a commodity which a man possesses to illustrate his power and wealth. A woman like a costly painting is Man’s fixed asset on which the latter has the right to spend money and display it in public. Men are nothing but collectors of rare and valuable objects. In the opening scene Selden is presented as a collector of rare books. He is enticed on seeing Lily. Not only for Selden but also for other men Lily is a feast for the eyes. A woman like Lily is the most prized and desired possession of all. Atleast Selden has some affection for Lily.While other men like Trenor wish to append her in their list of possessions.
A particular critic points out that in this novel we get two kinds of characters. – the watchers and the watched with the men being watchers and the women being watched . If a woman is not being watched she becomes an outcast in the society.Lily Bart herself becomes a victim of the civilization . She falls low in her reputation when she is falsely accused of having an affair with a man whom she borrowed money. She is excommunicated from the ornamental world like a worn out painting which is no longer attractive .A woman is supposed to take all precautions such that no damage is caused to her position. This is not he case with the menfolk. Selden survives despite the charge on him of having an affair with a married woman.
Though Lily Bart makes conscious attempts to identify herself with the society, she subconsciously seems to escape from the age of ornament. The accidents like Lily’s missing church, which results in Percy Gryce finding someone else is her protest against marriage and her revolt against being a stagnant object. Further it is indispensable to observe that Lily succeeds in getting eligible men to propose to her. However she doesn’t commit to any of them. Her marital prospects with Gryce gets cancelled when she indulges in a walk with Selden. Lily avoids her suitors either by running away literally or by running away mentally. In the first chapter when Lily is in Benedick she feels how delicious it is to have a place exclusively for oneself. Lily feels sorry that she is deprived of such privileges. She feels how lucky men are for no conscious effort is made on their part to get married or attain status in society. Lily actually suffers from an internal conflict . She wants to be an ordinary person . At the same time her mother’s words keeps lingering in her mind . Lily allows herself to be treated as a human ornament. But she also feels “ what a miserable thing it is to be a woman .”Her pride prevents her from leading a simple life. Unlike Lily there are woman like Gerty Farish who lives in her own flat and makes her own living. Lily chooses to be an ornament because that is the only way she will be able to earn a social status for herself. Lily unable escape from the clutches of the materialistic society opts to die rather than live. Lily accepts her status as an object only externally. She manages to retain her innate characteristics till her death.
Unfortunately a woman is treated as an object even in her death. Lily remains appreciated as a work of art and hence is defined by others. The very depiction of her death scene suggests display. Selden observes “ on the bed, with motionless hands and calm, unrecognizing face, the semblance of Lily Bart.” It sad to note that even in death appearance is the only thing that matters. In short women cannot help being treated as a commodity on both sides of the grave.
S.Swarna Rupa
M.A.English and Comparative Literature
I Year
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