Madame Bovary Vs. The House Term Paper

Denied marriage, the only other societal option is suicide. Society is the agent of her demise, not Lilly: "her life is not unpleasant until a chain of events destroys her with the thoroughness and indifference of a meat grinder."

Goetz, Thomas H. "Flaubert, Gustave." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006. [1

Oct 2006] http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar200180.

Biographical overview, provides insight into Flaubert's role as a uniquely realistic writer, thus stressing Emma's economic and moral ruin not as extraordinary, but ordinary.

The House of Mirth." Directed by Terrence Davies. 2000.

This film version takes a slightly feminist reading of Lily's suicide, stressing the aspects of Wharton's novel that imply that middle class women have few venues for self-expression, other than in marriage. Rather than delicate and retiring, Gillian Anderson portrays Lily as strong, and actively makes the unfortunate decisions that result in her social ostracism.

Inness, Sherrie. a. "An economy of beauty: the beauty system in Edith Wharton's 'The

Looking Glass' and 'Permanent Wave.'" Studies in Short Fiction. Spring 1993.

Oct 2006] http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2455/is_n2_v30/ai_14081381

Addresses the role of beauty in all of Wharton's fiction, and the ways in which women are regarded in society as physically beautiful and objects of the male gaze. These aspects are seen as crucial within the novel in motivating Lily's suicide.

Jong, Erica. "Fashion Victim." Salon.com. September 1997. [1 Oct 2006] http://www.salon.com/sept97/bovary970915.html

1970's feminist author Jong and author of Fear of Flying suggests that Emma dies because she has attempted to make her life into an erotic novel.

Madame Bovary." Directed by Claude Chabrol. 1991.

French made film with English subtitles. Emma's suicide during the latter half of the novel is given greatest attention.

Pizer, Donald."The naturalism of Edith Wharton's 'House of Mirth. 20th Century

Literature. Summer 1995. [1 Oct 2006] http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0403/is_n2_v41/ai_17861988

Stresses the natralistic aspects of Wharton's work, offering possible parallels with Flaubert's influence in literary natualism and realism, quotes, a "notable attempt, however, to free Wharton criticism from this conventional assumption occurred in 1953, when Blake Nevius observed that Lily Bart, in the House of Mirth, is 'as completely and typically the product of her heredity, environment, and the historical moment... As the protagonist of any recognized naturalistic novel.'"

Reading Group Guide: The House of Mirth." Penguin-Putnam. 2006. [1 Oct 2006] http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides/house_of_mirth.asp

This online, popular guide focuses on the question of the inevitability of Lily's suicide. Why does Lily sometimes show scruples, and other times foolishly refuses to play by societal rules? Analyzes Lily's suicide as socially engineered, due to the nature of the Gilded Age, and its conspicuous consumption combined with moral hypocrisy.

Sartre, Jean-Paul. The Family Idiot: Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1857. Trans. Carol Cosman.

Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981.

Sartre, author of "Suicide," presents his own meditations of Flaubert's life, and the way that he sees Flaubert's life realized in the earlier author's works.

Wagner-Martin, Linda. "Wharton, Edith." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006.

Oct 2006] http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar600060.

Overview of Wharton's life, with interesting reminder in light of Lily's despair over not being able to earn enough money through, work, that Wharton supported her own husband financially during their marriage......