The House of Mirth

The House of Mirth

Year: 2000

Runtime: 140 min

Language: English

Director: Terence Davies

DramaRomance

In the lavish setting of Gilded Age New York, Lily Bart possesses beauty and charm, but finds them a double-edged sword. She struggles to maintain her position within the rigid social hierarchy, caught between genuine affection and the allure of wealth and status. As she pursues advantageous connections, Lily becomes entangled in a web of desire and deception, ultimately facing heartbreaking consequences when her carefully constructed world comes crashing down.

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Timeline & Setting – The House of Mirth (2000)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The House of Mirth (2000). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 20th century (1900s–1910s)

The tale unfolds in an era of conspicuous wealth and rigid social codes. Women's roles are constrained to marriage and status, with reputations fragile and public shaming common. The period is defined by lavish clubs, expensive gowns, and the constant negotiation between affection and financial security.

Location

New York City, Monte Carlo, the Dorsets' yacht

The story moves through New York's elite social scene before sweeping to Europe aboard the Dorsets' yacht, with a final horizon of Monte Carlo. The settings showcase opulent interiors, society balls, and the pressures of reputation. Across these locations, appearances are carefully curated, and money dictates what is possible.

🏙️ Urban 🚢 Luxury 🏛️ High society

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:04

Main Characters – The House of Mirth (2000)

Meet the key characters of The House of Mirth (2000), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lily Bart

Protagonist Lily Bart is a beautiful, stylish social climber who longs for security within New York's elite circles. Her charm opens doors, but her fear of poverty drives risky choices and secret letters. As debts mount and reputations fray, she slides from admiration to desperation and addiction.

💎 Ambition 💔 Vulnerability 👗 Style

Lawrence Selden

A principled lawyer and Lily's ideal love, he embodies intellect and restraint. He loves Lily but cannot provide the financial security or social sanction she seeks. Their relationship is tested by social expectations and unspoken realities, ending in poignant separation.

💼 Integrity 💏 Romance 🕊️ Restraint

Judy Trenor

A well-connected socialite and Lily's adviser, Judy wields influence over events to shape Lily's prospects. She champions marriage to wealth while showing little concern for Lily's welfare when stakes rise. Her practical, sometimes ruthless guidance highlights the cost of climbing society.

🤝 Connections 💬 Influence 👠 Ambition

Gus Trenor

Judy's husband, a suave yet unscrupulous financier who manipulates Lily with money and promises of reinvestment. His schemes entangle her in debt and scandal. His actions illustrate how financial leverage can corrupt personal ethics.

💰 Manipulation 🕶️ Sophistication 🧭 Power

Bertha Dorset

A prominent socialite whose private indiscretions threaten public perception. She uses the scandalous letters against Lily as leverage while maintaining her own facade of respectability. Bertha embodies the duplicity and ruthlessness of high society.

🗝️ Secrets 🧭 Manipulation 🎭 Reputation

George Dorset

Bertha's husband, caught in a web of infidelity and social drama. His suspicions and pride fuel confrontations during the yacht cruise and beyond. He embodies the fragility of marital trust amid public scrutiny.

💔 Infidelity 🧭 Honor 🕊️ Conflict

Simon Rosedale

Wealthy financier who represents money's power to reshape social boundaries. He knows about Bertha's letters and uses that knowledge to negotiate Lily's future. His proposals blend affection with strategic calculation.

💎 Wealth 🎯 Strategy 🗡️ Leverage

Percy Gryce

A handsome, affluent suitor regarded as the perfect match by Lily's circle. His presence contrasts with Lily's longing for Selden, underscoring the tension between romance and social advancement. Gryce's role highlights the pressures of securing a financially advantageous marriage.

💼 Suitor 🏛️ Status 💖 Ideal

Grace Stepney

Lily's younger cousin, an important ally with hidden ambitions. She inherits a fortune that shifts Lily's options and alters family dynamics. Grace's own vulnerabilities and loyalties complicate the path Lily can take.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family 💰 Inheritance 💡 Loyalty

Julia Peniston

Lily's wealthy aunt who funds part of her social access before dying, altering the inheritance balance. Julia's fortune shapes the power dynamics within Lily's family. Her death exposes how quickly financial fortune can shift among relatives.

🏛️ Family wealth 🧭 Power 💔 Loss

Carry Fisher

A socialite who offers Lily shelter during her lowest moments, reflecting both generosity and judgment in upper-class networks. She embodies the fragile support system available outside Lily's core circle. Carry's invitation underscores the precariousness of Lily's social safety net.

🤝 Charity 🏠 Shelter 🕊️ Community

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:04

Major Themes – The House of Mirth (2000)

Explore the central themes of The House of Mirth (2000), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Society & Class

Lily's rise and fall are driven by a merciless social ladder where wealth, marriage, and appearance determine worth. The circles she navigates reward conformity and punish deviation. The plot exposes how reputation can be manufactured, damaged, and leveraged for advantage.

💔 Love & Betrayal

Romance is entangled with deceit, secrecy, and leverage. Lily seeks genuine affection with Lawrence Selden while others press her toward wealthier matches. The text traces betrayals—of lovers, friends, and confidants—that fracture trust and fuel tragedy.

💰 Money & Power

Financial influence drives relationships and outcomes, from Gus Trenor's loans to Simon Rosedale's schemes. Money buys options, shapes marriages, and corrupts judgments about loyalty. The pursuit of fortune ultimately dictates survival and social standing.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:04

Unlock the Full Story of The House of Mirth

Don't stop at just watching — explore The House of Mirth in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The House of Mirth is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The House of Mirth Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The House of Mirth, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The House of Mirth Summary

The House of Mirth Timeline

Track the full timeline of The House of Mirth with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The House of Mirth Timeline

More About The House of Mirth

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More About The House of Mirth

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