The House of Mirth · Chapter
XIV explained
Gerty Farish wakes from happy dreams, feeling a new sense of joy from Lawrence Selden's growing kindness and his shared interest in Lily Bart.
What happens
Gerty Farish wakes from happy dreams, feeling a new sense of joy from Lawrence Selden's growing kindness and his shared interest in Lily Bart. She reflects on Lily's philanthropic work and her own role in bringing Lily and Selden together. However, Gerty's joy turns to jealousy and bitterness when she realizes Selden's feelings for Lily, leading her to hate her friend. That night, Lily arrives unexpectedly at Gerty's door, distraught and seeking shelter.
Themes in this chapter
Female Agency and Constraint
Gerty's internal conflict between her love for Selden and her friendship with Lily highlights the limited options for women to express desire or secure happiness.
Moral Compromise and Self-Deception
Gerty deceives herself about Lily's motives for philanthropy, and later struggles with her own jealousy and hatred, revealing the moral compromises inherent in self-preservation.
Appearance vs. Reality
Gerty's idealized view of Lily as a philanthropic figure contrasts with the reality of Lily's self-interested desire to please, and Gerty's own hidden jealousy.
Characters to notice
- Gerty Farish
Wakes from happy dreams, feeling joy from Selden's kindness and his interest in Lily; later becomes jealous and hates Lily, but ultimately takes her in when Lily arrives distraught.
- Lily Bart
Subject of Gerty's thoughts; her philanthropic work at the Girls' Club is described; arrives unexpectedly at Gerty's flat, cold and seeking shelter.
- Lawrence Selden
Gerty reflects on his growing kindness to her and his interest in Lily; he is thinking intensely of Lily while on a business trip to Albany; his background and views on women and money are explored.
Key passages
“Gerty Farish, the morning after the Wellington Brys' entertainment, woke from dreams as happy as Lily's.”
The morning after the Brys' party, Gerty Farish awoke feeling as joyful as Lily.
Establishes Gerty's initial happiness and connection to Lily.
“She had never seen him so alert, so responsive, so attentive to what she had to say.”
She had never observed him so lively and engaged in conversation with her.
Describes Selden's changed manner toward Gerty.
“She knew Selden—she saw how the force of her faith in Lily must have helped to dispel his hesitations.”
She understood that her own belief in Lily had likely overcome Selden's doubts.
Gerty realizes her role in bringing Selden and Lily together.
“She wanted happiness—wanted it as fiercely and unscrupulously as Lily did, but without Lily's power of obtaining it.”
She desired happiness just as intensely and ruthlessly as Lily, but lacked Lily's ability to achieve it.
Gerty's jealousy and self-awareness of her own limitations.
“She flung on her dressing-gown to answer the summons, and unlocking her door, confronted the shining vision of Lily Bart.”
She threw on her robe, opened the door, and found herself facing the radiant figure of Lily Bart.
Lily's unexpected arrival at Gerty's door.