House of Mirth Lesson Plan

What does Nettie Struther represent to Lily?

One answer might be that Nettie represents the continuity of life outside individual suffering and conflict. Lily's life is over, but there is a new child in the world to take her place. It is not the rise and fall of individuals as portrayed in the rest of the book; it is the circle of life and death. Another answer might be that Nettie's marriage represents Lily's lost chance at being loved by someone who is totally accepting of who she is: Selden. Nettie's husband knew about her difficult past, and wanted to marry her and give her some security in life despite this knowledge. Selden always offered the same, and Lily...