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...
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