Edith Wharton
In this section of the novel, we get to the action (a very loose definition of the word action, but action nonetheless). I believe this would be the rising action of the story, but to be honest I have never in my life understood the plot classification system.
What I do know for certain is that more conflicts are arising for Lily, and conflicts that have existed since the beginning are starting to bubble at the surface. The motif of gambling seems to form the basis of all Lily's conflicts and dilemmas: Trenor and Rosedale, Selden, and Gryce.
In order to escape her debts, Lily decides to ask Mr. Trenor, her friend's husband, to help her invest her money. However, this partnership requires more from Lily than she is comfortable giving. Trenor now treats Lily in a manner that is more than friendly. Furthermore, Trenor asks that Lily treat Rosedale in a similar manner so that Rosedale would bestow his financial graces on Trenor. To Lilly, Rosedale, who rose to his status as Lily plans to, represents a life of conformity and vanity. The potential gains from complying with Trenor are financial independence and security; however, the risks are living a life of constant acting and cunning and alienating Selden.
Of all the people she knows, Lily realizes Selden is the only person who brings out Lily's true self. Even she knows deep down that she wants to marry him, but doing so would restrict her financial aspirations. Moreover, every step she took to secure her financial future with Trenor and Rosedale threatens to sever her ties with Selden. The potential gains from choosing to pursue Selden are a happy life and an escape from conformity; however, the risks are living a modest lifestyle and going against her mother's desires for regained wealth.
Gryce, whom Lily has decided to marry, is starting to look for other potential wives because of Lily's like of gambling. Nevertheless, Lily decides to win him back to prove her beauty and worth as her mother convinced her she could. However, putting all her self confidence in her ability to win men over turns on her when she learns that Gryce is engaged to Evie Van Osburgh; not only are the financial security and independence once promised by Gryce in jeopardy, the only qualities she believes anyone ever sees in her are undermined.
Lily's anguish from her dilemmas becomes apparent: "Any definite situation would be more tolerable than this buffeting of chances, which kept her in an attitude of uneasy alertness toward every possibility of life" (Wharton, 78). Lily has to wager on one of these men. Each one represents a future: Trenor represents a single but wealthy life, Selden represents a modest but happy life, and Gryce represents a wealthy but vain (you never saw a typo) life that her mother prescribed.
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