Examine the roles of Lawrence Seldenand Simon Ro Essays

Examine the roles of Lawrence Seldenand Simon Rosedale in the novel. Lawrence Selden is part of the elite group of New York and is therefore able to mingle around the circles, he detests their way of living and instead chose to view and study them as an outside observer. Furthermore, even though being part of the privileged society of New York, Selden does not believe that money can buy happiness and is instead a more down-to-earth person, looking for love and happiness instead of buying them with money. While, Simon Rosedale is presented in stereotypical terms as a wealthy, social-climbing Jew. He has been "snubbed" time and again by the people who Lilly associates herself with, simply because of his heritage. He is lacking the fine taste of the upper class men of New York and displays a certain vulgarity commonly associated with his race. Rosedale is described as a "plumprosy man of the blond Jewish type, with smart London clothes fitting him like upholstery, andsmall sidelong eyes" (pg. 48).At first he seems to be an example of everything the novel condemns, focused only on money and shallowness which is the exact opposite of Selden. As the novel continues, however, he is the only one to show kindness to Lily. Lily Bart and Lawrence Selden are in approximately the same economic shape; nonetheless, he enjoys the privileges of a man in his time. He has no pressing need to marry for money due to his earning potential as a lawyer. Men in his society are also not expected to be attractive as women are and therefore don't have to spend so much money on clothes. He can live very comfortably in his apartment and he can be invited to all the same parties and social functions that Lily is invited to, without having to face the same pressure to be charming, beautiful and entertaining. Selden is the opposite to Rosedale when it comes to the believes of material wealth ; Rosedale aspires to the social circles of the wealthy. However, His goal to move into upper-crust society is not greedy and mean; he sees it as a kind of hobby. Due to his different perspectives Lawrence Selden has an idea that there is a small group of people who are similar in their commitment to living their lives freely and deliberately. He calls this the "republic of the spirit. " He says rich people can seldom get into the republic and married people can seldom get into it. He is sharper and more deliberate in his choices than the other people of his society. In some sense, Lawrence Selden is in the novel as an ideologue ,he represents a person who stands for an idea and he functions as such to show a side of Lily that her other friends do not bring out. On the contrary, Simon Rosedale's character has a philosophical basis that is as easy to notice as easy to predict. He is determined to acquire both money and status through which he will earn the respect that he lucks due to his heritage. Regardless of his humble origins and luck of social connections, his power ends up becoming redefined by his financial power. It is the beginning of the new capitalist society of New York and Rosedale is its major representative. Despite their differences, they have one thing in common: They truly love Lily and desire to be with her. Nonetheless, Selden's love for Lily comes into contrast to his idea of freedom. On the one hand, he is fiercely committed to the idea of independence and on the other hand, he is attracted to the idea of living life as his parents did--people whom he admired for their commitment to the beautiful. When he considers marrying Lily Bart, he thinks of his mother. He imagines for those moments that Lily will be like his mother, content with a few delicate things and a life of good company and conversation. He seems to be ready to marry Lily Bart only when he thinks she needs him. He considers marrying her the first time when Gerty Farish tells him to help Lily. When he hears that Lily is in trouble