ead. To point out another difference in status between the two characters, Jane Eyre rarely displayed a longing to be part of the higher class, whereas, Lily Bart is intrigued and attracted by it.Another comparison between Lily and Jane can be made regarding beauty. This topic is apparent almost immediately in House of Mirth. In the beginning of the book, it is expressed that, “One or two persons, in brushing past them, lingered to look; for Miss Bart was a figure to arrest even the suburban traveller rushing to his last train” (p.18). He goes on to wonder that, “she must have cost a great deal to make, that a great many dull and ugly people must have been sacrificed to produce her” (p.20). These excerpts demonstrate Lily’s external beauty. This notion is made even more obvious in the line, “the qualities distinguishing her from the herd of her sex were chiefly external”. Lily was beautiful and charming which may have aided her on her way to popularity. Even her name, Lily, implies beauty and can be seen as an emblem of femininity. Jane is verydifferent from Lily concerning the aspect of ‘beauty’. She is not blessed with physicalbeauty and is described as ordinary and plain. However, Jane consists of a certain kindof beauty, perhaps more important. She is internally beautiful and has the advantage ofhaving the beauty of mental intelligence and humility. Important to mention is that unlike Lily, who tries to win over men with her looks, Jane is able to win over Rochesterwith her personality and intelligence. Jane values her knowledge and thinking over her physical beauty, whereas, Lily values money, her status, and prestigious friends. Perhapsshe is taught this notion of inner beauty by Lowood in that it was a school that stifled any sign of beauty, but gave her a chance to better herself intellectually. In Jane Eyre, as Rochester chooses Jane to be his next wife, he...
