Social Expectations in The House of Mirth: Wharton’s Critique of New York Society
Social Expectations in The House of Mirth: Wharton’s Critique of New York Society
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Description:
In The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton critiques the social expectations of New York’s high society during the early 20th century. The novel explores how wealth, status, and appearance are valued above personal character, and how individuals like Lily Bart, who fail to conform to these societal norms, find themselves alienated and ultimately destroyed. Wharton’s commentary on social class and societal pressure reveals how rigid social expectations can trap individuals in cycles of superficiality and dehumanization.
