ABSTRACT

The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence are widely considered to be the most significant works of Edith Wharton, one of the most important writers in the history of American literature during the 19th to 20th centuries. The Age of Innocence, as one of her “Old New York” representatives, was published in 1921 and won the Pulitzer Prize for its high value in society at that time. In this novel, Wharton depicts a triangular love story of three main characters: Ellen Olenska, Newland Archer and May Welland. She intends to reveal through the story the predicament and struggle of women in Old New York, an epitome of the patriarchal society. People from the Old New York judge men and women’s behaviors by a double and hypocritical standard. New women are confronted with obstacles from the society. They seek independence and freedom and they are battling to get out of constraints of the masculine superiority. 

From the perspective of feminism, this paper reveals the constraints of traditional views on females and presents female voice of revolt and the awakening feminist consciousness in Old New York in order to draw people’s attention to Wharton’s thinking on women’s issues. By investigating into the feminist consciousness as revealed in the novel, it will help readers better understand Wharton’s feminism ideas.

Keywords: The Age of Innocence; Feminine Consciousness; Old New York; Masculine Superiority

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-3

Chapter Three PREDICAMENTS OF WOMEN IN OLD NEW YORK-5

3.1 Rigid Social Customs-5

3.2 Masculine Superiority-7

Chapter Four ENDEAVORS OF ELLEN OLENSKA AS A NEW WOMAN-9

4.1 Obstacles for a New Woman-9

4.2 Breaking Away from Tradition-10

4.2.1 Unconventional dressing-10

4.2.2 Location and decoration of Ellen’s home-11

4.2.3 Attitudes towards the poor-12

4.2.4 Attitudes towards divorce-12

4.3 Pursuing Independence-14

4.3.1 Pursuit of economic independence-14

4.3.2 Pursuit of spiritual independence-14

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-17

WORKS CITED-19