The House of Mirth is a novel that explores the socio-economic pressures on the main character, Lily Bart, a woman in the high society of New York in the late 19th century. It is about her struggle to secure a wealthy husband and maintain her place in refined society while having a limited income and advancing age. The book vividly portrays the dark side of wealth and the ultimate isolation and decay of the main character. It offers a critical look at a society that values wealth over character and individuals' ethical dilemmas in such a society.