The Fortune of Rougons - Émile Zola

The Fortune of the Rougons by Émile Zola is the first novel in his monumental Les Rougon-Macquart cycle. Set during the rise of the French Second Empire, the story unfolds around the 1851 coup d’état by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. At that time, France was deeply divided politically: the aristocracy tended to support the monarchy, much of the bourgeoisie aligned with the new Empire (Bonapartist), and many workers and republicans fought for democratic ideals. Through this conflict, Zola reveals how politics, class ambition, and moral compromise profoundly shaped both public events and everyday life. As the foundational novel of the cycle, it marks the point of origin from which everything unfolds—the beginning of the hereditary forces that will determine the fate of the Rougon-Macquart family across generations.

Set in the provincial town of Plassans, The Fortune of the Rougons centers on Pierre Rougon, an ambitious man determined to climb the social ladder. Pierre is the son of Adélaïde Fouque—known as Tante Dide—the matriarch at the origin of the Rougon-Macquart family line. Married to Félicité, he fathers several children who will later play important roles in the series. Pierre’s half-brother, Antoine Macquart, and his half-sister, Ursule Mouret (née Macquart), represent the other branch of the family. But contrast with Pierre, Antoine drinks a lot and lives carelessly. His drinking shows his bitterness, laziness, and lack of discipline. Zola portrays Macquart side are jealousy, bitterness, and long-standing resentment, highlighting the deep internal divisions that run through the same bloodline. 

The conflict between Pierre and his half-brother Antoine Macquart is not only about family inheritance, but also about politics. At first, Pierre seems to support the monarchy largely because of his wife and her relatives, who influence his ambitions and social position. Antoine, who identifies as a republican, uses these political differences as a weapon to take revenge on Pierre. This deepens their personal hatred and shows how national political conflict can divide even members of the same family.

In this novel, Zola also offers subtle hints and brief introductions to the Rougon and Macquart children, suggesting their distinct personalities and ambitions. Many of these children later become central figures in other novels in the Les Rougon-Macquart series, making The Fortune of the Rougons not only a family drama but also the foundation of a much larger literary saga.

But, Zola represented Silvère Mouret true political belief that comes from the heart. He likes reading republican and democratic pamphlets at Tante Dide’s house, especially ideas about equality and people’s rights that were popular around the 1848 Revolution. Unlike Pierre, who uses politics for personal gain, Silvère believes politics should improve society. His pursuit is not mainly for his own success, but for justice and a better future for the people. 

In conclusion, The Fortune of the Rougons shows that politics and family cannot be separated. Through Pierre and Antoine, we see how political beliefs can be used not only for ideals but also for ambition and revenge. The novel makes me question whether success comes from morality or from manipulation, especially through Pierre and Félicité’s desire for wealth and status. Overall, this book feels like a strong beginning to a larger story about family, power, and the consequences of ambition. Through Silvère Zola shows what idealistic and sincere political belief looks like, even when it faces a harsh reality, making the story feel emotional and symbolic.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬✬ (5/5)

Title :  The Fortune of Rougons 
Author : Émile Zola
Publisher : Oxford World Classics
Year : September, 2012 (First Published in 1871)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 301 pages
ISBN : 9780199560998

Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens

I have always been interested in stories that involve legal issues, so it felt natural for me to choose Little Dorrit. I was also curious because I learned that the novel exposes the inefficiency of the Marshalsea Prison as a debtors’ prison and criticizes the corruption of the Circumlocution Office as British system of patronage, how powerful government posts were controlled by elite families instead of earned by merit. Being aware of the powerful satire of Charles Dickens, I became even more eager to read it and understand what made the story so influential.

An important part of the story takes place in the Marshalsea Prison, where twenty-two-year-old Amy Dorrit, known as “Little Dorrit,” was born and raised. Her father, William Dorrit, was imprisoned there because he was unable to pay his debts. Amy lives in the prison with her father and her brother, Edward “Tip” Dorrit, while her sister Fanny lives outside with their uncle, Frederick, and works as a dancer. Together, they struggle to earn a living in order to support themselves and help repay their father’s debts.

But, the novel opens with the story of two French prisoners in Marseilles, Cavalletto and Rigaud. Later, we discover that Rigaud has several connections to the main characters. At first, I felt slightly confused, especially because the names Marshalsea and Marseilles sound so similar. The narrative then shifts to introduce Arthur Clennam, who is returning to England after completing his business in China. On board the ship, he travels with the Meagles family and Miss Wade, both of whom will later play important roles in the development of the story.

This book is 800 pages long, that we will wait to meet Amy Dorrit in. Amy's fate first crosses with Arthur Clennam when she goes to work at Mrs. Clennam’s house as a seamstress, using her needle to mend and sew. It is there that Arthur notices her quiet patience and gentle character. Gradually, he begins to suspect that Little Dorrit is not just an ordinary seamstress, is someone who is somehow connected to his own family’s past. 

The Dorrit family turns out to be victims of the delay and inefficiency of the Circumlocution Office, whose complicated and negligent administration caused the rightful legacy to remain buried for years. Instead Arthur Clennam search for his family past, he discovers a dramatic change to the Dorrit family’s life, transforming them from poverty to sudden wealth. This major shift is reflected in the structure of the novel itself, which is divided into two parts to show the contrast between their life in hardship and their life in riches. However, Arthur keep searching his own family past, make this novel turn into mystery.

In Little Dorrit, Dickens constructs a complex and interconnected story by combining several different plotlines involving the Dorrits, the Clennams, the Merdles, the Meagles family, the Casby and others. Each storyline has a different tone: some parts are full of emotional suffering, others contain comedy, and many sections strongly express social satire. 

One of the most memorable parts for me is when Amy travels to Europe. The tone of the novel suddenly changes from the bleak, gloomy, and hazy atmosphere of London to the bright, pleasant, and colorful setting of Italy. This contrast makes the story feel lighter and more hopeful. I especially like the moment when Amy meets Minnie “Pet” Meagles and becomes her friend, as it shows Amy’s gentle and sincere character in a new environment. The comic interactions between Fanny Dorrit and Mrs. Merdle also add humor to the story. Their conversations and social pretensions provide comic relief and give a lighter touch to the narrative, balancing the more serious and emotional parts of the novel. But what I really waiting for is the triangle love story between John - Amy - Arthur.

The phrase “Do Not Forget” is closely related to the psychological struggles of the characters. Mr. Dorrit strongly wants to forget his painful past in the Marshalsea Prison because he feels ashamed of it and wants to protect his new social status. On the other hand, Mrs. Clennam refuses to forget the past and holds on to guilt and old grievances, similar to Miss Havisham in Great Expectations.

Marshalsea Prison

Dickens also criticizes the financial elite through the character of Mr. Merdle, whose reputation as a successful and brilliant businessman is built more on public illusion than on real honesty. Many people trust and admire him simply because he appears wealthy and powerful. Another example is the figure of the “Patriarch,” Mr. Casby. In front of his tenants, he presents himself as kind and generous, almost like a Santa Claus figure. However, in reality, he is selfish and manipulative. He forces his agent, Mr. Pancks, to collect high rents and pressure the tenants, while he keeps his own reputation clean. Through these characters, Dickens shows how appearances can be deceiving and how those in power often hide their exploitation behind a respectable image.

Speak about The Marshalsea institution was established as part of the legal system at the time, based on the belief that imprisoning debtors would pressure them or their families to settle their debts. However, as Dickens shows in the novel, the system was often cruel and ineffective, trapping families in long-term poverty rather than solving their financial problems. 

In the end, the moral message of the story seems to question what “home” truly means. Is home a place of wealth and social status, or is it where love, loyalty, and sincerity exist?

Amy Dorrit, as the emotional heart of the novel, shows a beautiful and sincere ability to forgive and to reconcile with the past. She does not care about status, money, or social ambition. Even after experiencing wealth and traveling abroad, she still feels deeply connected to the Marshalsea Prison, because it is the place where her love and sacrifices were rooted. Through Amy, Dickens suggests that a true home is not defined by riches or reputation, but by compassion, memory, and genuine human connection. 

"None of us clearly know to whom or to what we are indebted in this wise, until some marked stop in the whirling wheel of life brings the right perception with it. It comes with sickness, it comes with sorrow, it comes with the loss of the dearly loved, it is one of the most frequent uses of adversity. "

Finally, I give Little Dorrit four stars. Although the novel is rich and meaningful, I often found the conversations overly long and repetitive—especially Flora’s rambling speeches and Mr. Meagles’ lengthy remarks. The extended satire of the Circumlocution Office and the detailed descriptions of the Barnacle elite sometimes felt excessive and made parts of the book is bored.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬(4/5)
Title : Little Dorrit
Author : Charles Dickens
Publisher : Wordsworth Classics
Year : 2013 (First Published in 1857)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 848 pages
ISBN :  9781853261824

Review Villette - Charlotte Brontë

Villette is one of Charlotte Brontë’s lesser-known works compared with Jane Eyre, and it became the last novel she published. The story is often understood as drawing on her own experiences teaching English at a continental pensionnat, alongside her sister Emily, who worked as a music teacher. Published in 1853, Villette stood apart from many Victorian novels of its time: It's obvious that we as reader expecting the romance, but what we found: the tone is quiet and often gloomy, and it is especially notable for its deep psychological insight and introspective narration.

The story begins with Lucy’s retrospective memories of childhood at her godmother’s home in Bretton. Very little is revealed about Lucy’s own background, and she is presented largely as an orphaned, rootless figure. At Bretton she lives with her godmother, Mrs. Bretton, and her lively son, Graham. Their quiet domestic life changes when Paulina (Polly) Home arrives, a young child whose mother has just died. While her grieving father travels, Polly is entrusted to Mrs. Bretton’s care, and the three children share the household for a time. Lucy, however, often places herself on the margins, observing their interactions more than actively participating in them. 

Lucy embark her journey abroad

After leaving Bretton, Lucy begins an independent and uncertain life. She finds work as a companion to Miss Marchmont, an elderly and lonely woman. When Miss Marchmont dies, Lucy is once again left alone, without employment or support. This personal crisis ultimately pushes her to travel abroad, leading to her arrival in the foreign city of Villette, where the main events of the novel unfold.

Brontë’s portrayal feels realistic and deeply informative, shaped by her firsthand experience of the time and place that inspired the fictional city of Villette, often understood as a version of Brussels. I especially appreciate how she creates a genuine sense of foreignness: the frequent French dialogue, the cultural distance, and Lucy’s isolation all make the reader feel as though we are truly sharing her position as an outsider in an unfamiliar world.

Lucy’s childhood memories serve as a form of foreshadowing for her present experiences; Brontë introduces Graham and Polly not simply as past companions, but as figures whose roles become deeply intertwined with Lucy’s later emotional journey. In fact, the early chapters show Lucy’s role as a marginal one, but in the second part, I think it becomes more interesting: Lucy shifts from being merely an observer to taking on a more emotional role. This change takes us deeper into the story because we finally begin to understand how she truly feels. We come to understand that Lucy is deeply skeptical. I think she is a very complex character: she is pessimistic, stoical, and always feels isolated in Villette. We also see that she struggles with her mental health; her hallucination-like visions reflect how profoundly lonely she feels. This is unique—Lucy’s attitude is “expect nothing, and you won’t be hurt,” a kind of defense mechanism to protect herself.  Indeed, Lucy is gave up, hopeless with her unrequieted love.

Despite finding a sense of freedom, she becomes trapped once again in isolation at the boarding school, under the watchful authority of a strict headmistress who always wants to know everything. Can't say that the headmistress—Madame Beck as the villain; rather, she functions as a quiet antagonist who prefers to maintain control over everyone in the pensionnat. Monsieur Paul (Mme. Beck's cousin) is a complex and passionate man whose relationship with Lucy is marked by both intellectual connection and emotional tension, once again, Lucy struglle with her feeling and her faith as a protestant. 

So many questions come to mind that I wish I could ask Charlotte Brontë—why, in the end, does she never describe Lucy’s early life with her family? How did her parents die, or did they simply pass away without leaving any inheritance? It can be assumed that Lucy did not come from deep poverty, given her connection to her godmother, Mrs. Bretton. Once again, this shows how uncommon the novel was for its time: it is not just another Victorian romance. Brontë’s narrative feels advanced, almost modern. She seems to suggest that Lucy’s past and family background do not truly matter; there are parts of her history that Lucy chooses not to reveal, perhaps connected to trauma or grief. What ultimately matters is Lucy’s present experience and the story she is living now.

Speaking about the nun ghost, I assume that Lucy’s struggles with her mental health make her experience hallucination-like visions, especially when she is grieving. The nun appears mainly within the pensionnat, and, much like in Jane Eyre, Brontë presents the mystery in a way that seems supernatural at first but is ultimately given a logical explanation.

I’m not going to say that this book is an easy read—you can’t just breeze through it. I had to concentrate more deeply to absorb it, especially at the beginning when Brontë presents Lucy mainly as an observer and a somewhat unreliable narrator. There is also a great deal of French dialogue, so readers who don’t understand French may need to rely on footnotes. However, with a little patience, you begin to uncover the subtle depth of Lucy’s emotions and enjoy the rich, fascinating descriptions of place—even without any visual references from film adaptations, azzz they should make this into film.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬(4/5)
Title : Villette
Author : Charlotte Brontë
Publisher : Penguin English Library
Year : 2012 (First Published in 1853)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 616 pages
ISBN :  9780141199887

2026 Classics Reading Haul

20 Classics Books I want to read in 2026 :

British Classics :

1. 1984 - George Orwell
2. Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott
3. Last Man, The - Mary Shelley
4. Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens
5. Middlemarch - George Elliot
6. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
7. Monk, The - Matthew Lewis
8. Villette - Charlotte Bronte
9. Wives and Daughter - Elizabeth Gaskell
10. Woodlanders, The  - Thomas Hardy
11. Women In Love - D.H Lawrence

French Classics :

1. The Kill - Emile Zola
2. The Man in The Iron Mask - Alexandre Dumas

Russian Classics :

1. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
2. Eugene Onegin - Alexander Pushkin
3. Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak
4. The Idiot - Fyodor Dostoevsky

American Classics:

1. The Last of The Mohicans -
2. The Song of The Larks - Willa Cather
3. Tarzan The Apes & Return of Tarzan - Edgar Rice Burogh
4. A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemmingway

Recap

January :

1. Villette - Charlotte Bronte

February :

2. Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens

3. Eugene Onegin - Alexander Pushkin

March :

4. Middlemarch - George Elliot

April :

5. The Kill - Emile Zola

6. The Song of The Larks - Willa Cather

May :

7. Women In Love - D.H Lawrence

8. Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak

June :

9. Woodlanders, The  - Thomas Hardy

10. The Last of The Mohicans  - James Fenimore Copper

11. 1984 - George Orwell

July :

12. Tarzan The Apes & Return of Tarzan - Edgar Rice Burogh

13.  A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemmingway

August :

14. Moby Dick - Herman Melville

September :

15.  Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

October :

16. Last Man, The - Mary Shelley

17. Monk, The - Matthew Lewis

November :

18. The Idiot - Fyodor Dostoevsky

December :

19. Wives and Daughter - Elizabeth Gaskell

Review The Black Tulip - Alexandre Dumas

Here we are in the Netherlands in the mid-seventeenth century, when the country was a young republic emerging from its long struggle for independence from Spain and was marked by political tension between the ruling House of Orange and the republican leaders, the brothers De Witt. This was a time of great prosperity, but also of deep conflict and instability. This novel is one of heroism, tinged with tragedy, history, and political intrigue. Our author is the beloved Alexandre Dumas of France, so be prepared for a tale full of action and adventure.

The Black Tulip flower lies at the heart of the novel, a symbol of the nation and of material pursuit, embodying the ambition to cultivate a flower that had never before been discovered. The city of Haarlem offers a prize of 100,000 francs to whoever can succeed in growing a black tulip. At stake are not only the reward itself, but also fame and honour: the victor’s name will be forever linked to the tulip that bears it.

Cornelius van Baerle is a devoted lover of tulips, a wealthy, generous, and gentle man who lives only for his flowers. He dreams of discovering the black tulip so that it may bear his name. He begin experiment to discover a black tulip. But he has an evil neighbour who shares the same passion for tulip-growing, yet is corrupted by envy and greed: Isaac Boxtel. A manipulative man, Boxtel schemes to steal Cornelius’s black tulip and ultimately has him thrown into prison, falsely accusing him because of his connection to the brothers De Witt, who are now branded as traitors.

The plot of betrayal is reminiscent of another Dumas novel, The Count of Monte Cristo. Though this story is nearly three hundred pages long, it is still a fascinating book. Rosa, our unexpected heroine, is a beautiful and kind-hearted Frisian girl. She soon falls in love with Van Baerle—and perhaps, too, is tempted a little by the prize money. Timid and obedient, yet practical and clever, she lives in her father’s house; her father is the jailer. It is here that the action begins.

So this is not just a story about the pursuit of material things which is the black tulip itself or the prize money, but a story about love, honesty, and staying strong in difficult times. At first, the historical background of seventeenth-century Holland may feel a bit confusing, especially with the political conflict around the De Witt brothers. However, once you understand it, the setting helps make the story more meaningful and realistic.

Compared to Dumas’s other works like The Count of Monte Cristo, this novel is shorter and lighter, but still touching. It is a good choice for beginer because it is not too long, the language is clear, and the message is positive. In the end, the story shows that true success is not only about winning money or fame, but about keeping your integrity and finding happiness with the people you love.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬(4/5)
Title : The Black Tulip
Author : Alexandre Dumas
Publisher : Penguin English Classics (Black Spine)
Year :  2003 (First Published in 1850)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 258 pages
ISBN : 9780140448924

Howards End - E.M Forster

Although A Room with a View didn’t make a lasting impression on me, I found Howards End to be much deeper and more philosophically engaging. Howards End looks at social problems and how people behave between classes, but it also goes deeper into the characters’ thoughts and feelings. The themes feel different too. The story talks about class and social differences , but it also deals with harder issues like responsibility and understanding between people during Edwardian era or early twentieth century

Howards End begins with a letter from Helen Schlegel to her sister Margaret, telling her about an impulsive romance with Paul Wilcox during Helen's visit at Howards End. However, Mr. Wilcox dismisses the relationship as unserious because Paul “hasn’t a penny” to marry. In the Wilcox family, a man must be financially independent before taking a wife, even though the family itself is wealthy.

The Schlegels live at Wickham Place in London—Margaret being the eldest, followed by Helen and their brother Tibby. The Wilcoxes live across the street for a time, and during this period Margaret becomes close to Mrs. Ruth Wilcox. Ruth sees something genuine and trustworthy in Margaret, something that reminds her of the spirit of Howards End-the property of Ruth Wilcox, and the house where she was born. This connection leads Ruth to leave Howards End to Margaret in her will—on a piece of paper written by her hand. This becomes the source of the conflict between the Wilcoxes and the Schlegels. The Wilcoxes assume that the house belongs to them and treat Ruth’s deathbed wish as sentimental nonsense rather than a real inheritance. 

Leonard Bast first meets the Schlegels when he comes to Wickham Place to retrieve his umbrella after Helen mistakenly takes it at a concert. The sisters become interested in him because he seems thoughtful and eager to improve himself. They invite him into conversations about books and life, which makes Leonard feel respected. 

The three families in Howards End, each from a different social class, really interest me because they show how people live and think in completely different ways. The Wilcox, the upper-class represent as practical, materialist, and power. Their bussines somehow is building the empire. The Schlegels,  upper-class but not as royal as Wilcoxes, they are more like bohemian, they value arts, books and philoshopy. The Bast or Leonard Bast is the lower-class, he is poor but sometimes loses himself while reading, he believe with reading he want to become "something". 

The heroine of this novel is Margaret, at the begining in the novel she 28 years old but her personality is mature, she is able to connect the people from different classes, and brave enough to confront about idealism with her husband who is very phatriach. She is contrast with Wilcoxes who think success and wealth are proof of superiority, Margaret thinks every person has value, whether rich or poor. Mr. Henry Wilcox remarks that "there are always the rich and the poor", and this reflects his worldview, believe that class divisions are natural. I think he benefits from this system, because his companies rely on lower-class workers.

This outer life, though obviously horrid, often seems the real one —there’s grit in it.

Helen Schlegel is too romanticize her life, and fancying the idealistic life where everyone is equal. Offcourse by reading books too much, we can't solve every problem in this life, but with reading we gain an educated mind, emphaty for our hearts, and appreciate the artistic in life, those are what Forster said about "the inner life" that holds our feelings. Helen insist to help Mr. Bast whatever its cost. Different from her sister, Margaret brings something new to the Wilcox family—she feeds their minds, comforts their hearts, and reminds them that life is more than just work and keep getting whealty, these are also what Forster said to us, that The Wilcoxes just have "the outer life" shaped by work, duty, and society’s expectations. Because the true harmony comes when we learn to connect the two, the inner and the outer life.

"Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die."

The Schlegels’ idea of “Only Connect” suggests that people from the lower class, like Leonard Bast, can be helped through meaningful connection with those from the upper class. The rich may offer advice or guidance, but misunderstandings still happen because a real gap exists between the classes, such as different experience and practical knowledge. Leonard is intelligent, but his idealism and ambition clash with the Wilcoxes’ practicality and the realities of his own situation. The novel asks whether someone from the lower class in that era could truly “rise,” or whether the rigid social structure makes such upward movement extremely difficult. 

The novel ends at Howards End, returning to where it began. Forster wants readers to understand the philosophy of a house—not merely as a building, but as a place filled with history and meaning. Ruth and Margaret value the house because they believe it represents continuity, harmony, and connection. This contrasts with the Wilcoxes, who see the house only as a piece of property.

In the end, I find Forster’s writing  is easy to read, well structured though heavy issues and sharp social commentary. He often describes London in 1910 as cloudy and polluted because of motor-car smoke, which makes the city feel busy and heavy. In contrast, he shows the English countryside as calm, relaxing, and peaceful. This difference highlights how Forster sees the countryside as a place where people can find clarity and connection.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬(4/5)
Title : Howards End
Author : E. M Forster
Publisher : Penguin English Library
Year : 2012 (First Published in 1910)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 382 pages
ISBN : 978-0141199405

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth moved me profoundly. Ever since I finished the novel a few days ago, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it as I try to make sense of my feelings. There is no doubt that I was captivated by it—so much so that my thoughts have been entirely absorbed in trying to understand it. To truly comprehend its depth and to fully grasp it I could not do without cliffnotes, literary charts or watch the biography of Edith Wharton from historical channel for masterful help.

The complexity of Lily Bart

Gillian Anderson as Lily Bart,
The House of Mirth (2000)

“She was so evidently the victim of the civilization which had produced her, that the links of her bracelet seemed like manacles chaining her to her fate.” (Book I, Chapter 6)

Lily Bart, 29 years old is looking for a husband. She is trapped by the very society that made her. The bracelet, a symbol of beauty and wealth, becomes a chain that holds her down. Lily wants to live honestly and be free from society’s pressure, but she depends on it at the same time. She knows what is wrong with the world she lives in, but she cannot escape it. It is complex, because she lives between what she wants and what she believes is right. 

“She had learned that a woman’s dignity may cost her all she has; but that the absence of it is the costlier thing.”  (Book II, Chapter 7)

In the begining of the novel, Lliy is on the way to attend a house party which her friends, Judy Trenor as a hostes. In this occasion, it is a sadly normal things that a woman in the society like her to seduce a whealty men for a husband, not actually 'sex seduction', but a social performence, expected to marry well. Lily want to attract Percy Gryce, she meet him in a train, but her conversation interupted by Bertha Doreset, one of Lily's friends in her socilite circle who wants to keep Lily from rising higher.

Lily Bart and Lawrence Selden

On the same day, before taking the train to Bellomont, Lily meets Lawrence Selden. She is waiting at the station after visiting her aunt, Mrs. Peniston, when she suddenly spots him among the crowd. Selden invites her to his nearby flat for a cup of tea, and because she doesn’t want anyone to see them together.

“Isn’t marriage your vocation? Isn’t it what you’re all brought up for?”

 (Selden, Book I, Chapter )

“Ah, there’s the difference—a girl must, a man may if he chooses.”She surveyed him critically. “Your coat’s a little shabby—but who cares? It doesn’t keep people from asking you to dine. If I were shabby no one would have me: a woman is asked out as much for her clothes as for herself. The clothes are the background, the frame, if you like: they don’t make success, but they are a part of it. Who wants a dingy woman? We are expected to be pretty and well-dressed till we drop—and if we can’t keep it up alone, we have to go into partnership.” (Lily, Book I, Chapter)

The conversations between Lily Bart and Lawrence Selden are among the most fascinating parts of The House of Mirth. Besides providing an overview of the double standards in the early twentieth century, through their dialogue, Edith Wharton emphasizes the contrast between individual ideals and the corrupt social system that shapes their lives.

He sat up with sudden energy, resting his elbows on his knees and staring out upon the mellow fields. “My idea of success,” he said, “is personal freedom."

“Freedom? Freedom from worries?"
"From everything—from money, from poverty, from ease and anxiety, from all the material accidents. To keep a kind of republic of the spirit— that’s what I call success."

It is clear that Lily and Selden stand on opposite sides of that world: while Lily is trapped within the glittering but merciless society she depends on, Selden remains outside, observing and judging it with moral detachment. Selden’s belief in a “republic of the spirit” represents a vision of freedom based on integrity and inner worth rather than wealth. Yet tragically, Lily cannot fully embrace that ideal—she knows that Selden is not wealthy enough to sustain the luxurious life her upper-class world demands. So, they are intellectually and emotionally equal, but unequal socially and  freedom.

The Character's mirror  and The Social Game

In The House of Mirth show that not everyone who looks kind really is. People in Lily's world care more about gossip and appearance than honesty or friendship. Everything around her feels like a masked ball, where everyone wears smiles to cover their true faces, that the beautiful world of the rich is often just a disguise for greed and competition.

“It was one of the laws of Lily’s world that she must amuse her friends, but never let them see that they amused her.”

Edith Wharton uses Bertha Dorset, Carry Fisher, and Gerty Farish as three different paths that Lily Bart could take — like multiple choices offered by society. Each woman represents a possible way for Lily's future. Bertha chooses wealth and power through lies and manipulation. Gerty chooses honesty and kindness, but lives a poor and lonely life. Carry learns how to adapt — she is not cruel, but she plays the social game just enough to live comfortably. Wharton shows that for women like Lily, every choice leads to loss: if she chooses goodness, she loses comfort; if she chooses wealth, she loses freedom. None of the options offer real happiness. In this world, beauty and charm are social currency, and one misstep leads to ruin. Lily begins as a skilled player but gradually realizes that the game itself is corrupt.

Conclusion:

In the end, The House of Mirth is not merely the story of one woman, but also a reflection of the world and circumstances she navigates. Through Lily Bart’s experiences, Wharton critiques the shallow values of the society she once belonged to. She also gives readers plenty of room to imagine, using subtlety and ambiguity, especially in the ending, which invites interpretation. Her elegant, suggestive style makes readers active participants in understanding the story. This is what gives her writing enduring power, allowing it to remain relevant and widely discussed more than a century later. 

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬✬(5/5)
Title : The House of Mirth
Author : Edith Wharton
Publisher : Penguin English Library
Year : 2012 (First Published in 1905)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 400 pages
ISBN : 9780141199023

.

Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë

Wuthering Heights  is the only novel written by Emily Brontë. Considered a masterpiece of Gothic fiction, it centers on the intense and tragic love between Heathcliff and Catherine, a passion that transforms into hatred and revenge. The story told by Nelly Dean, former servant of Wuthering Heights and later become the servant of Thrushcross Grange rented by Mr. Lockwood in the present time of this book. 

Wuthering Heights is a house on the top of the moor, stormy and windy, which fits the wild weather that often surrounds the house. The atmosphere is dark, cold, and rough. The house is built strong to face the violent storms, but inside it feels gloomy and harsh. Mr. Earnshaw, the mister of this house, has brought  neglected orphan boy, later named Heatcliff, when he's come back from Liverpool. Heathcliff has dark-skinned, dirty, and poor, black hair, black eyes, and a gypsy-like appearance that makes him look very different from the Earnshaw family. After Mr. Earnshaw died; Heathcliff was often treated as a servant by Hindley, he found pleasure and happiness when playing with Catherine who thought of her as a friend and play together. Times flies, this friendship soon become  lover.

The Karamazov Brothers - Fyodor Dostoevsky

In The Karamazov Brothers, Dostoevsky employs four main characters to weave his story and express his philosophical vision. First is Fyodor Karamazov, a corrupt and selfish father who neglects his three sons. His eldest, Dmitry, born from his first wife, is passionate and impulsive; Ivan, the second son from his second wife, is an intellectual skeptic who struggles with faith; and the youngest, Alyosha, is gentle and spiritual, embodying Christian love. Though the brothers share the same blood, they do not share the same beliefs or values.

Alyosha is the chosen hero of the story—handsome, kind-hearted, and deeply spiritual. Dostoevsky introduces Father Zosima as a revered elder monk, believed by many to perform miracles. The plot begins with the Karamazov family meeting Father Zosima, who serves as both witness and counselor in a scandal involving Fyodor and Dmitry. The scandal centers on their rivalry over the same woman, Grushenka, whose beauty and charm ignite jealousy, lust, and resentment between father and son. This moral and emotional conflict becomes the foundation of the novel’s tragedy. 

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë only written four great books. But if she ever wrote a book with her passion and spirit, it is Jane Eyre. I haven't read all his books, but enough to be assured that it is so. Charlotte Brontë is well-known for her gender roles and feminism writing and satirical social class and Inequality. But in Jane Eyre, her writing is beautiful, passionate, and sincere. She blends romance, gothic mystery and social criticsm making it both personal revolutionary work.

The story of Jane Eyre tells about Jane’s life from her hard childhood until she becomes an independent woman. She faces many struggles, learns about love and self-respect, and always tries to stay true to her own values. The novel is told by Jane herself, so we can really feel her thoughts and emotions. The book also tells about other people around Jane, which helps us see what life was like in the Victorian time. We can see the difference between rich and poor, how women were treated unfairly, and how hard life was for many people. It also talks about family, love, and morals, which makes Jane Eyre feel like a complete story about life.