Mirth; Book 1, Section IX and X

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

“It’s Mrs. Haffen, Miss; she won’t say what she wants” (Wharton, 82). This quote introduces Mrs. Haffen to Lily for the second time and presents Mrs. Haffen as a poignant opportunity for Lily. Mrs. Haffen, when Lily Bart first sees her, is nothing. She just happens to be on the stairs when Lily is leaving Selden’s room early in the novel. Later, Mrs. Haffen seeks out Lily Bart with the hope that Lily will purchase some letters from Bertha to Selden with the hopes that she will receive enough money to pay her rent. When Lily and Mrs. Haffen first engage in conversation, Lily views Mrs. Haffen as just another mere nuisance. That thought changes once Mrs. Haffen presents the letters. Mrs. Haffen’s role of a nuisance changes to a way for Lily to escape and a way to ruin Selden’s life. Mrs. Haffen provides a way for Lily to reestablish herself upon a pedestal by blackmailing Bertha. At the same time, releasing the letters would also mean that Selden’s reputation would be ruined. Since he is already on the lower standard of life, ruining his reputation would prevent any chance of him meeting with the upper class again. Lily purchases the letters and Mrs. Haffen returns to being nobody.