The House of Mirth
by Edith Wharton

The House of Mirth: Setting 1 key example

Definition of Setting

Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition

Key Examples in The House of Mirth

Setting
Explanation and Analysis:

Wharton's novel is set in the opulent high society of Gilded Age New York and takes place sometime between 1905 and 1910. This was an era of enormous wealth disparity in the United States, and the gaping void between rich and poor is a central focus of the book. The upper-crust homes and hotels of the novel’s elite are characterized by glamour, wealth, and extravagance. Wharton’s characters engage in lavish events and show off their extreme affluence whenever they can. The novel's setting is essential to establishing the superficial values and rigid social conventions that dominate the narrative: appearances, in The House of Mirth, are everything.