The House of Mirth

Lily Bart Gillian Anderson is an impoverished socialite accustomed to comfort and luxury. Along with her younger cousin, Grace Stepney, she lives with her wealthy aunt, Julia Peniston, who gives Lily a small allowance. Lily admires lawyer Lawrence Selden, but he is too poor for her to seriously consider marrying. Her options are narrowed to Simon Rosedale, a rising financier, and the wealthy Percy Gryce. Lily’s friend Judy Trenor urges her to pursue Gryce, yet Lily’s heart leans toward Selden, and during a country weekend they share a kiss. Gryce, with whom Lily has already broken two appointments, leaves abruptly. Fearful for her future, a dejected Lily pours out her troubles to Judy’s husband, Gus Trenor. He leads her to believe that he will help her earn money through investment. Later, Lily purchases scandalous letters written by Bertha Dorset revealing that Selden was her lover. Lily is hurt, but keeps the letters secret.

At a wedding, Lily receives a $5,000 check from Gus Trenor Dan Aykroyd, who claims to have reinvested another $4,000. Later, he invites Lily to the opera, where she is seen by Julia and Selden as she sits with Trenor and Rosedale. Trenor tricks her into leaving the opera and accompanying him to his home, where he tries to kiss her, claiming that Lily is not playing a fair game when she accepts his money but refuses him her attentions. When Lily arrives home, Julia refuses to lend her the money to repay the $9,000 she received from Trenor. Lily confides in Grace, asking if she should turn to Selden for his understanding, but Grace advises against it; Grace secretly loves Lawrence. Lily had arranged a later appointment with Selden while at the wedding, and she counts on his love for her to overcome her foolish mistakes.

While Lily is hoping to hear from Selden, Rosedale visits, proposing to her. His wealth could free Lily, yet she rejects his proposal. Bertha Dorset invites Lily to the Dorsets’ yacht for a European cruise. Lily accepts, desperate to escape the debts, whispers and criticism in New York.

In Monte Carlo, Mrs. Carry Fisher meets with Selden, who has arrived from London. They are both worried about Lily, travelling on the Dorsets’ yacht. Lily and George Dorset converse on deck while a young man reads poetry to Bertha. While ashore that evening, Lily and George look for them in vain before returning to the yacht. Next morning, George enters Lily’s cabin, accusing her of knowing about Bertha’s indiscretions with the young poet. Lily pleads ignorance of Bertha’s behavior. When Bertha returns, Lily confronts her, saying that she can no longer divert George’s attention from Bertha’s affair. Bertha turns the tables by accusing Lily of adultery with George, since Lily was alone aboard the yacht with him all night.

Back in New York, the Dorsets are still in marital discord and Julia has died. Lily receives only a fraction of Julia’s fortune, the bulk having been left to her cousin Grace. Now homeless and adrift, Lily is invited by Carry Fisher to stay with her and the Gormers for the summer. Carry believes Lily’s two possibilities for marriage are George Dorset and Simon Rosedale. George asks Lily for the truth about his wife Bertha’s infidelities, but she denies any knowledge of them. In her growing desperation, she approaches Simon Rosedale. He knows about Bertha’s letters and advises Lily to use them to force Bertha to restore her social standing. He offers to marry Lily once she and Bertha are reconciled, but Lily refuses.

Lily starts working for the social-climbing Mrs. Hatch as her secretary and companion. Selden says that this hurts Lily’s social standing, but she needs the money. They argue and part on bad terms. Lily goes to the pharmacy for Mrs. Hatch’s laudanum sleeping medication, and begins taking it herself. After Mrs. Hatch gets into society, she discovers that Lily’s reputation is a liability and fires her. Lily gets a job sewing for a milliner, but her growing addiction leads to her being fired for poor work. Lily visits her cousin Grace for a loan but is rejected.

Lily almost confronts Bertha Dorset with the letters written to Selden. Finding that the Dorsets have left town, Lily goes to Selden, saying that she knows that she lost his love. When Lawrence is not looking, she throws the letters in his lit fireplace. Lily goes home and finds her inheritance has been delivered. She puts the check in an envelope she addresses to her bank, and writes another for Gus Trenor, resolving her massive debt, and then takes a fatal dose of the laudanum. Finding the partially-burnt letters and sensing her intentions, Selden rushes to her boarding room. There, at her deathbed, holding her hand, he weeps, declaring his love for her.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 10:29