Wharton’s novels serve as compelling cases for understanding the complexities of late 19th-century American society.The paper uses The Age of Innocence as an example to examine detailed depiction of the era’s social...Wharton’s novels serve as compelling cases for understanding the complexities of late 19th-century American society.The paper uses The Age of Innocence as an example to examine detailed depiction of the era’s social hierarchy,fashion,architecture,and the intricate social rituals that defined New York’s upper class.It explores the constraints and dilemmas women faced within a patriarchal society,highlighting Wharton’s personal experiences and her critical stance on the social norms of her time.The characters of Newland Archer,May Welland,and Ellen Olenska are analyzed to reveal the pressures of societal expectations and the struggles for individual desires within a rigid social structure.Additionally,the paper proposes various teaching methods,including contextual understanding,literary analysis with a historical focus,and historical research projects,to enhance students’comprehension of the cultural and historical context of the novel.These methods aim to immerse students in the narrative and promote their understanding of the Gilded Age’s social dynamics.展开更多
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Wharton’s novels serve as compelling cases for understanding the complexities of late 19th-century American society.The paper uses The Age of Innocence as an example to examine detailed depiction of the era’s social hierarchy,fashion,architecture,and the intricate social rituals that defined New York’s upper class.It explores the constraints and dilemmas women faced within a patriarchal society,highlighting Wharton’s personal experiences and her critical stance on the social norms of her time.The characters of Newland Archer,May Welland,and Ellen Olenska are analyzed to reveal the pressures of societal expectations and the struggles for individual desires within a rigid social structure.Additionally,the paper proposes various teaching methods,including contextual understanding,literary analysis with a historical focus,and historical research projects,to enhance students’comprehension of the cultural and historical context of the novel.These methods aim to immerse students in the narrative and promote their understanding of the Gilded Age’s social dynamics.
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.
