Bertha Dorset
The character that fully achieved success in the book The House of Mirth is Bertha Dorset. No other character was as successful in achieving their goals as Bertha. ... Bertha is more manipulative and cunning then we took her for. ... Bertha Dorset’s definition of success is not only to be rich and loved by everyone, but also to have no equal. ... Lily Bart in this case has done both to Bertha. She crossed her path in interfering with Bertha’s chance with Lawrence Selden and being the most beautiful and attractive girl in their social circle. ... Bertha is jealous of Lily’s attention and therefore makes her life miserable and unbearable to live. During Lily’s visit to Bellomont she accidentally intruded on Bertha and Lawrence’s meeting at the library. Bertha was displeased with Lily’s interruption, which triggered her plans for ruining Lily’s life. ... If Bertha hadn’t told Percy about Lily’s addictions, Lily would have been financially secure for the rest of her life. ... Bertha thus succeeds in her first attempt in her course in the destruction of Lily’s life. Over the course of the book we see Lily’s mistakes with men, her bad choices on the people to rely on, which drove her to slump deeper and poorer and Bertha takes advantage of Lily’s unfortunate circumstances.