The Butterfly House

"The Butterfly House" by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman is a story that takes place in Fairbridge, New Jersey, a small village full of people who think they are important but don't realize their own shortcomings. The book tells the story of Mrs. Wilbur Edes, who is fancy and wants to get ahead in life, and Alice Mendon, who is beautiful and interesting. Their lives get mixed together as they deal with the social rules of the village. The book shows how people act in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else's business, and it touches on big ideas like wanting more out of life, figuring out who you are, and how society affects people. The Zenith Club plays an important role as these women interact with each other, and the story hints that bigger problems are coming as the story develops.