The House of Mirth 
by Edith Wharton
Book One: chapters I, II, III
Edith Wharton begins by introducing her main character, Lily Bart, through the narration of Laurence Selden. Selden's view provided an interesting way for the reader to learn about Lily's character and Selden's opinion of it. Because most of the book is third person limited narration in Lily's perspective, it would have been hard for Wharton to let the reader know about the way others perceive Lily. Without Selden's view of Lily's beauty, it would have been hard for the reader to tell if she really was pretty or if she was only conceited with an inflated view of her own looks. Through Selden's thoughts, Wharton lets the reader know that Lily "was a figure to arrest even the suburban traveller rushing to his last train." In addition, the readers also discovers that Lily is calculating, planning her every move because her "simplest acts seemed the result of far reaching intentions."

The reader also learns about Lily through their conversations well as Selden's reactions and observations. For example, one could assume Lily is  shallow when Selden observes her primping and looking at herself in the mirror while speaking to him. Also, from Selden's thoughts, the reader discover Lily's desire for wealth through a rich husband. Selden's perspective allows Wharton to impart all of this information without Lily's thoughts coloring the reader's first impressions of her.