CliffsNotes on Wharton's The House of Mirth

by Bruce Edward Walker

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. CliffsNotes on The House of Mirth takes you into the waning years of the Gilded Age and the moral bankruptcy of New York City's elite class. Edith Wharton's story of a woman—whose beauty causes men to desire to possess her and women to be jealous of her—reflects the complicated struggle of the individual against the social strictures of a powerful, and triumphant, moneyed class. This concise supplement to the satirically critical The House of Mirth, helps you understand the overall structure of the novel, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and cultural perspectives of the author. Features that help you study include Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

84 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2003

Reviews

[David Fulmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides an excellent summary and analysis of Edith Wharton’s great novel about Gilded Age New York society.