Some thoughts on tomorrow's test

Here's a few suggestions for areas in the novel you might want to focus on:
1) During Lily and Selden's walk, Selden discusses his idea of what would constitute the good life. What is this idea and how does Lily respond to it? Also did you notice how the walk in the country seems almost to function as a symbol of paradise before the fall (as in the Garden of Eden story)? Taken this way, the world of money and social standing is close to hell, or at least to the world after Adam and Eve were forced from paradise. This makes Selden's last line of the chapter, "Let us go down" all the more ominous -- in returning to the house, they are almost literally returning to the hell of money and social standing.
2) Mrs. Trenor is annoyed with Lily for having spent time with Selden, thereby neglecting Gryce. How did Bertha Dorset "poison" Gryce against Lily and why did she do so?
3) When Lily agrees to have Gus Trenor invest money for her, be aware that he is really not investing her money and making a return on the stock market; he's just giving her money. This is to have power over, boost his ego, and just possibly (though we can't be sure yet this is his plan) to have an affair with Lily in return for the money. I.e., be aware that in accepting the money Lily is putting herself in a terribly compromising position.
4) When Lily runs into Trenor and Rosedale, be aware of what Rosedale says and what he implies about Lily.
5)Be aware of what marriage plans Percy Gryce settles on and how this affects Lily.
6) Be aware of the satire about Mrs. Peniston at the beginning of Chapter 9. Have you ever known anybody who lives in that kind of highly scheduled, organized way? How does Mrs. Peniston's overly ordered existence contrast with Lily's?
7) Be aware of the meaning of the letters that Mrs. Hafner brings to Lily. Who are they from? They involve an affair between Mrs. Dorset and whom? How will the male in the affair be judged? What does Lily stand to gain, and why does she accept the letters?

See you tomorrow.