to provide for her: The certainty that she could marry Percy Gyrce when she pleased had lifted a heavy load from her mind, andher money troubles were too recent for their removal notto leave a sense of relief which a less discerning intelligencemight have taken for happiness. Her vulgar cares were at an end. She would be able to arrange her life as shepleased, to soar into that empyrean of security wherecreditors cannot penetrate. She would have smarter gownsthan Judy Trenor, and far, far more jewels than Bertha DorsetAnd she had no doubts as to the extent of her power. (65)She is extremely mechanical in her views on marriage, and one can see that she views the institution as a business deal. She is emotionally detached from this union and seeks only financial gain. Lily is conscious of the game that she is playing and realizes that she must manipulate Mr. Gyrce's affections in order to have stability in her life. She woos him by setting aside her personality, and concentrating solely on his interests. She is willing to throw aside her essence to stroke Percy's ego. Lady Brett Ashley also depends on her good looks and charisma to manipulate men. However, she lives in a more Bohemian society, where she does not necessarily need to marry a man, in order to be taken care of. Brett Ashley is the product of a later generation, in which promiscuity will not ruin her reputation, and she takes full advantage of that fact. While men do provide financially for Brett, that does not seem to be her main intention. She travels in decadent and gluttonous circles, where an excess of food, drink and sex determine the days activities. To immerse herself in this culture, Brett plays off her good looks and charm, conforming to societies moral vacancy. Instead, she seeks emotional gain, and draws men to her, only to desert them quickly, leaving them shattered and despondent. She approaches the manipulation of men like ...
