Lily

According to Selden, "The people who take society as an escape from work are putting it to its proper use; but when it becomes the thing worked for, it distorts all the relations of life (72)." Selden represents everything that Lily is not. Lily believes in money and the importance of class. On the otherhand, he says, "My idea of sucess, personal freedom...From everything-from money, from poverty...from all the material accidents" (70). Selden is different from Lily, but he is attractive to her. Lily abandons the cause of Mr. Gryce for Selden. At the same time however, she also wants the rich life. She is amibvalent in her feelings on the direction of her life. It is strange how throughout the novel Lily is indecisive in her actions.