The House of Mirth: Book II, Chapters IX and X

Setting yet again plays a big part in understanding Miss Bart's situation in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth. Miss Bart's life has completely dropped to her greatest fear, and she is in a world of confusion. While in need of a job to support herself, Miss Bart finds herself in completely new corners of the social spectrum. First, Miss Bart discovers a new style of wealth when she spends time in a New York hotel. She explains this lifestyle as, "Over-heated, over-upholstered, and over-fitted... the product of strong ambitions" (Wharton, 222). Not only does Miss Bart find herself in a new situation, but her surroundings seem to be almost in excess. She is back in a wealthy lifestyle and is tempted by the feeling of luxury and comfort. Shortly after being in this new atmosphere, Miss Bart is completely ripped from this setting and thrown into the complete opposite lifestyle. Miss Bart is now experiencing the working class, and the stress and struggles earning just enough to live. Mr. Rosedale observes this new setting and views, "The blistered brown stone front, the windows draped with discloured lace, and the Pompeian decoration of the muddy vestibule," of Miss Bart's new home (Wharton, 238). By the detailed description of this new setting, the reader can conclude that Miss Bart is in the exact situation she has attempted to avoid over the course of the novel. Being in the dingy setting her mother warned her about, she no longer has anything to run from.