The Age of Innocence is the masterpiece of American female writer Edith Wharton. Set in the New York upper class be-tween 1870 s and 1880 s, the novel depicts a touching love story. This paper analyzes the character t...The Age of Innocence is the masterpiece of American female writer Edith Wharton. Set in the New York upper class be-tween 1870 s and 1880 s, the novel depicts a touching love story. This paper analyzes the character traits of Newland Archer from afeminist perspective, and analyzes how his free love is suffocated by deep-rooted conventions, so as to illustrate the deadly influ-ence of patriarchy on people at that time. The New York upper class at that time dreaded scandal more than disease, and therefore,the true love between Newland Archer and Ellen Olenska fell victim to the patriarchal society. Archer is both the supporter and vic-tim of patriarchy. Ellen is a courageous new woman who longs for freedom and equality with men and thus is rejected by the NewYork upper class and makes great sacrifices. From the analysis, this thesis maintains that the oppressive patriarchy is exactly thedeep root of his unfortunate fate. This novel shows that women-consciousness of the West was burgeoning in the 20 thcentury, andconveys the author's wish of gender equality.展开更多
文摘The Age of Innocence is the masterpiece of American female writer Edith Wharton. Set in the New York upper class be-tween 1870 s and 1880 s, the novel depicts a touching love story. This paper analyzes the character traits of Newland Archer from afeminist perspective, and analyzes how his free love is suffocated by deep-rooted conventions, so as to illustrate the deadly influ-ence of patriarchy on people at that time. The New York upper class at that time dreaded scandal more than disease, and therefore,the true love between Newland Archer and Ellen Olenska fell victim to the patriarchal society. Archer is both the supporter and vic-tim of patriarchy. Ellen is a courageous new woman who longs for freedom and equality with men and thus is rejected by the NewYork upper class and makes great sacrifices. From the analysis, this thesis maintains that the oppressive patriarchy is exactly thedeep root of his unfortunate fate. This novel shows that women-consciousness of the West was burgeoning in the 20 thcentury, andconveys the author's wish of gender equality.
