The mood of The House of Mirth is initially quite inconsistent and hard to gauge, as the narrator is so often satirical, ironic, or glib. Wharton’s readers are introduced first to the opulence and glamour of Gilded Age New York. They are shown the positive side of the high society depicted in the novel and introduced to the charming Lily Bart and Lawrence Selden. However, as the shallow values and rigid conventions of Lily's social circles are laid bare, an increasing sense of unease creeps in. The glitter of the elite world becomes less enchanting as the superficiality and moral bankruptcy of the people in Lily's life is revealed.
As the novel progresses, readers become emotionally invested in Lily’s character. Her social downfall and internal conflict—portrayed by Wharton with depth and complexity—elicit empathy and concern. This emotional connection makes the tragedy of her circumstances even more poignant. Readers witness her struggle vainly against societal constraints and her own personal flaws. She’s not a perfect heroine, but compared to the rest of the schemers who surround her, her cruel fate seems wretchedly unfair.
Because of this, in addition to the tragic events of the plot’s final stages, the novel leaves a lingering sense of melancholy. Lily’s desperate fate is marked by loss and despair, but her antagonists prosper. This makes the reader feel reflective and sad. Furthermore, the novel’s earlier use of humor and satire becomes haunting and uncomfortable in retrospect. The reader is compelled to reassess the significance and impact of Wharton’s satire upon reaching the novel’s heartbreaking conclusion.
