Guy Friends

      Gus Trenor begins to help Lily confirm her thoughts that she does not have to marry the richest man just because everyone else does.  She begins to talk to him about how she feels about it, and his response to her makes her feel like "he understood her better than her dearest friends" (Wharton, 68).  Although he is a minor character, his role plays a huge impact on Lily's actions.  He helps her confirm her confused thoughts and helps her realize that she does not have to marry Mr. Gryce because his wife thinks she should.  She realizes that she does not have to live like everyone else does there, Trenor helps her feel better about moving to Richfield with her aunt.  If it was not for Gus Trenor than Lily still might have felt bad about moving away and not living like all of her friends.  Trenor gave her the confirmation that she needed and now Lily is able to move on to the next step and start living like she wants to. Edith Wharton helps show that his role in The House of Mirth so far has played a huge impact on Lily's decisions.  Unlike her girl friends, Trenor sympathizes with her and agrees with what she is saying.  I wonder if Trenor's role will become more major or if this is his big part in the novel.  I am glad that he helped Lily realize that she should not do what everyone else expects and just sits there and listens to her like a real friend should.