Lily Bart

Lawrence Selden

A deeply ambivalent romantic connection marked by intellectual attraction and mutual hesitation, ultimately doomed by social constraints and personal pride.

Bertha Dorset

A venomous social rivalry where Bertha actively sabotages Lily out of jealousy and fear of exposure.

Simon Rosedale

A transactional romantic pursuit by the socially ambitious Rosedale, which Lily alternately encourages and rejects based on her fluctuating fortunes.

Gerty Farish

A loyal but one-sided friendship where Gerty offers genuine affection and support, while Lily often takes her for granted.

Percy Gryce

A calculated courtship by Lily to secure a wealthy marriage, which fails due to her inability to maintain the required facade.

Gus Trenor

A predatory dynamic where Gus lends Lily money and expects sexual favors in return, creating a dangerous dependency.

Judy Trenor

A superficial social friendship that turns cold when Lily becomes a liability to Judy's social standing.

Ned Silverton

A brief, flirtatious acquaintance that contributes to Lily's reputation for frivolity.

Carry Fisher

A pragmatic friendship where Carry acts as a social fixer, helping Lily navigate high society while also profiting from her connections.

Grace Stepney

A bitter rivalry fueled by jealousy over inheritance and social position, with Grace actively working to undermine Lily.

Nettie Struther

A redemptive, compassionate bond where Lily's kindness to a poor working girl is later reciprocated with shelter and care.

George Dorset

A fraught dynamic where George confides in Lily about his wife's infidelity, making Lily a pawn in the Dorsets' marital war.

Book I

Introduced as a beautiful, socially ambitious woman who is acutely aware of her need to marry wealthily. She is torn between her desire for luxury and her attraction to Selden's intellectual world.

Chapter I

Misses her train to Bellomont and accepts Selden's invitation to tea. Expresses discontent with the limitations of being a marriageable woman.

Chapter II

Reflects on her impulsive visit to Selden and the risk of Rosedale exposing her lie; skillfully engages Percy Gryce in conversation about Americana.

Chapter III

Reflects on her upbringing, her mother's influence, and her own ambitions and fears about poverty.

Chapter IV

Lily is actively managing her courtship with Percy Gryce, feeling confident in her ability to secure a wealthy marriage and escape financial troubles.

Chapter V

Feels disappointment and isolation after finding Selden with Bertha; reflects critically on her social circle and her own ambitions.

VI

Lily experiences a sense of lightness and freedom during her walk with Selden, reflecting on her past romance with Herbert Melson and her current feelings. She breaks her engagement with Percy Gryce to spend time with Selden, revealing her internal conflict between social duty and personal inclination.

Chapter VII

Listens to Judy's reproaches, resumes secretarial work, and later manipulates Gus Trenor into investing money for her.

Chapter VIII

Feels a mix of vexation and relief upon receiving money from Trenor; resolves to win back Percy Gryce.

Chapter IX

Lily is the central figure, confronted with Bertha Dorset's letters and grappling with moral dilemmas, social pressures, and her own compromised position.

Chapter X

Enjoys her newfound financial independence and social attention, but is disturbed by Rosedale's hints about her dealings with Trenor.

Chapter XI

Subject of gossip and resentment; her social habits and financial dealings are scrutinized by Grace Stepney and Mrs. Peniston.

XII

Reflects on her entanglement with Gus Trenor and her need for social sanction; participates in tableaux vivants at Mrs. Bry's party, stunning the audience with her portrayal of Mrs. Lloyd.

XIII

Wakes to notes from Selden and Mrs. Trenor, agrees to see Selden, dines with Mrs. Fisher, then visits the Trenors where she is trapped by Gus Trenor.

XIV

Subject of Gerty's thoughts; her philanthropic work at the Girls' Club is described; arrives unexpectedly at Gerty's flat, cold and seeking shelter.

Chapter XV

Wakes in Gerty's room, tormented by her debt to Trenor and her loss of dignity. She attempts to borrow money from her aunt but fails, and later receives a marriage proposal from Rosedale.

Book II

Protagonist whose social standing erodes; she accepts money from Gus Trenor, becomes embroiled in the Dorset scandal, loses her inheritance, and ultimately dies in poverty.

Chapter I

Lily is cruising with the Dorsets, managing George Dorset's attention while Bertha pursues an affair; she is described as poised on the brink of a chasm.

Chapter II

Lily is the focal point, navigating social maneuvers and Bertha's veiled threats.

Chapter III

Sends a telegram to Selden, tries to maintain appearances during the dinner, and seeks to help the Dorsets while feeling shut out by Bertha.

Chapter IV

Disinherited by her aunt, she appeals to Grace Stepney for a loan and later faces social ostracism after the will reading.

Chapter V

Lily reflects on her diminished social standing and considers marrying Simon Rosedale for love, despite his utilitarian motives.

Chapter VI

Accompanies the Gormers to their new estate, encounters George Dorset, and later visits Carry Fisher at Tuxedo.

VII

Lily is confronted by Rosedale's mercenary proposal; she wavers between the appeal of a calculated solution and her innate moral revulsion, ultimately rejecting his terms.

Chapter VIII

Desperate for money, seeks work as a social secretary; reveals her fear of poverty and the toll of keeping up appearances.

Chapter IX

Lily has taken a position as social secretary to Mrs. Norma Hatch, living in the Emporium Hotel. She feels both the physical luxury and the moral ambiguity of her new surroundings, and is troubled by her role in Mrs. Hatch's social ambitions.

Chapter X

Working at Mme. Regina's millinery shop, struggling with spangle sewing, feeling ill and isolated.

Chapter XI

Lily lies awake considering Rosedale's offer and the possibility of using Bertha's letters; she is dismissed from Mme. Regina's, wanders the streets, and ultimately decides to confront Bertha Dorset.

Chapter XII

Visits Selden to apologize and confess her emotional and moral struggles, revealing her sense of being a 'cog' in society's machine and her decision to symbolically leave her old self with him.

Chapter XIII

Lily experiences a profound vision of life's continuity after visiting Nettie Struther, struggles with her financial and emotional state, and receives her aunt's legacy.

XIV

Found dead in her room from an accidental overdose of chloral; her peaceful face and sparse belongings reveal her final renunciations.