nt when Lily proposes marriage to Rosedale at the end of the novel. He is unwilling to take her as his wife and states, "I know the quickest way to queer yourself with the right people is to be seen with the wrong ones" (Wharton 249). The inference is that Lily, as a result of the incident with Mr. Dorset, has become socially unacceptable for marriage. As this his been the focus of her entire life, Lily is devastated by this glimpse into the reality of what is being said about her in the public arena. Whereas Janie is able to thrive in spite of negative perceptions, Lily is destructed by the rules of society that she strives so diligently to adhere to. The main characters of both novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and The House of Mirth, are introduced to common ideals early in their lives, namely that a woman must marry a successful and respectable man in order to secure her future well being. Likewise, both women are subject to the rules of their societies. Yet while Janie is able to overlook the comments about her and find the romance she desires, Lily is ever conscious of how she is perceived by others and is never able to strive for true happiness. As a result, Lily becomes a victim of cultural rules and expectations, while Janie triumphs and rises above them. ...
