The House of Mirth
The central theme of "The House of Mirth" is essentially "the struggle between who we are and what society tells us we should be". Thus, it is considered by many to be as relevant today as it was in 1905. If its sole subject had been the excesses and lives of the rich and famous, by themselves, it is doubtful it would have remained popular for as long as it has. "The House of Mirth" continues to attract readers over a century after its first publication, possibly due to its timeless theme. That the life and death of Lily Bart matters to modern readers suggests that Wharton succeeded in her purpose: to critique "a society so relentlessly materialistic and self-serving that it casually destroys what is most beautiful and blameless within it."
Gal of Constant Sorrow
Hettie is getting too comfortable in Bart's closet, so she decides to give Bart one dollar per day as a rent. Lisa Simpson soon realizes Bart's suspicious income, and discovers Bart's scheme, but Bart convinces her not to tell Marge, because if she does so, Hettie will get kicked out of the house. They also discover Hettie's incredible talent for music, so Lisa invites her to stay in her closet. During the recordings of one of her songs, Bart warns Lisa that "she shouldn't be doing that, because if Hettie lets her down, Lisa won't be able to deal with her emotions."