The House of Mirth Chapters IX and X

As The House of Mirth continues, Edith Wharton cleverly intertwines a number of characters and events in such a way that many problems and potential disasters are culminating. In chapter 9, Lily obtains a pile of letters written to Mr. Selden from Berta Dorset. Depending on how she chooses to utilize these letters, they could potentially destroy Mrs. Dorset or even lead to Lily’s own downfall in the world of high society. Considering how much power these letters hold, I am very interested to see what role they will play in the outcome of the story’s events. Furthermore, Mr. Rosedale has resurfaced in Lily’s life, and I find this to be an issue of great concern since he has recently gained so much wealth and prominence. After visiting Lily at Mrs. Peniston’s house to invite her to go to the opera with a group in his box including Gus Trenor and Carry Fisher, he feels successful in advancing “his cause” with her, and Wharton reveals that, “The girl was evidently nervous, and Mr. Rosedale, if he saw no other means of advancing his acquaintance with her, was not above taking advantage of her nervousness” (Wharton, 93). Although I have no idea what schemes or intentions Mr. Rosedale has with Lily, I can’t help but feel he is incredibly dangerous. On the other hand, Gus Trenor may be an even bigger problem for Lily than Mr. Rosedale is, for he has become very insistent if not threatening in urging Lily to spend some quiet alone time with him. I think that that is just downright creepy, and I hope that Lily does not have to be alone with him any time soon. Considering all of these potential dangers, I’ve become really worried for Lily and confused as to where Selden is during all of this drama.

While many minor characters have contributed greatly to the plot of The House of Mirth, I feel that Mrs. Haffen might be the single most significant minor character in the story thus far, for her connection to both Selden and Lily spurred an interesting turn of events in the story. Mrs. Haffen, who worked as a maid at both the Benedick and Mrs. Peniston’s house, was greatly in need of some money and was fortunate enough to find a stack of letters from Bertha Dorset to Selden in the trash can of Mr. Selden’s apartment. She then took the letters to Lily and sold them to her for the largest sum of money she could glean. Lily had initially intended to safely dispose of the letters in accordance with what she was sure were Mr. Selden’s intentions; however, after remembering the relentless ridicule that Bertha had scourged her with, she later decided it a better option to hold on to the letters. Although Lily has yet to expose the letters to anyone or reveal any notion as to how to use the letters, I have a very strong feeling that her possession of such a scandalous item will come in to play later in the story and remain a prominent factor in Lily’s decisions. In fact, her possession of the letters has already caused Lily to agree to attend a party at Mrs. Dorset’s house, for she confessed that her ownership of the letters has “fed her resentment to satiety” (Wharton, 97). If Mrs. Haffen had not contrived to sell the letters to Lily for a much-needed sum of money, she may very well have disposed of them just as she would any other trash in Selden’s apartment. Because of her brilliant scheme, however, the letters have now transformed into a dangerous weapon and a major factor in the rest of the novel’s course. Therefore, despite the fact that Mrs. Haffen is a minor character, her role in The House of Mirthis immeasurably significant.