In The House of Mirth, what ultimately leads to Lily Bart's downfall?

Lily Bart's ultimate downfall in "The House of Mirth" is intricately tied to her inability to manage her finances. Throughout the novel, Lily is portrayed as a beautiful yet socially ambitious woman striving to secure her position in high society. However, her lack of financial acumen and dependence on the affluence of others leave her vulnerable.

As she navigates through the challenges of her social environment, Lily often spends beyond her means and fails to secure her financial future through strategic decisions. This financial mismanagement is crucial because it exacerbates her already precarious status in a society that values wealth and security. The societal pressures and expectations placed upon her lead to a series of poor choices that ultimately culminate in her social and personal decline.

The other factors mentioned, such as involvement in a scandal, addiction to sleeping pills, and estrangement from family, certainly contribute to her tragic trajectory, but they are closely interlinked with her financial struggles. It is her financial instability that compounds her vulnerabilities and ultimately sets the stage for her ultimate downfall. The complexity of her situation highlights how societal constraints and personal failings can contribute to a person's decline.