The Writing of Body in The House of Mirth

Abstract

Historical studies on the character of Lily Bart in Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth have predominantly revolved around psychology, sociology, and aesthetics, yet neglecting the significance and role of the body within the narrative. Using Brooks’s concept of body writing, this paper focuses on exploring Lily’s body in three dimensions: the body of vision (self-objectification); the body of privacy (moral dilemma); and the body of modernity (overdose symbolizing the clash of science and humanity). Scrutinizing and analyzing the body writing in The House of Mirth reveal the feminist undercurrents of Lily’s character and highlight the broader and significant role of body writing in literary works.