Small Details- Big picture

Wharton focuses his attention in this novel on many minute details. Every detail that a character does or thinks is meant to be scrutinized. This may be to show how people are truly scrutinized and analyzed to the highest extreme at all times by the upper echelon of society. One example of the attentive nature of Wharton is seen through the facial expressions of Lily. They hold serious importance in conveying her emotions. The two major expressions that Lily shows are blushes and smiles, which are regularly repeated throughout the novel, taking on very different meaning, and always providing good clues tot he current emotional state of Lily.