“Friends”

Lily is an interesting character – she acknowledges that people use each other for different reasons, but she does not realize that she does the exact same thing. She used Gus Trenor for his money and she uses the Dorsets for her social status. “What she required at the moment, of the Dorsets’ friendship was simply its social sanction” (130). It seems to me like she assesses potential “friends” by what they have to offer her. She doesn’t see actual friendship or caring or kindness – she very coldly assesses her peers and sees just what she can extract from being “friends” with them. Sounds like a very lonely life.