Consumer Culture In Edith Wharton's The House Of Mirth, The Custom Of The Country And The Age Of Innocence

Born in a rich New York family, Edith Wharton (1862-1937) is one of the most outstanding woman writers in American literary history. The wealthy upper-class family background provides abundant materials for her writing. Basing on the theme of"Old New York"that she defines for the New York upper-class society in the late 19th century and early 20th century, she creates series of successful novels of manners, such as The House of Mirth, The Custom of the Country and The Age of Innocence, etc. At the same time, Edith Wharton witnesses America at her times gradually turns a production society into a consumption society. The consumer intentions of people not only lie in the commodity's use-value but also more emphasize the sign-value of the goods. Because it is the symbol meaning that can be showed off their status. The pricier products they purchase the higher status they will own. The upper-class can consume whatever they like including luxury goods, arts, and even women, which leads to a phenomenon that conspicuous consumption becomes a fashion among the upper-class society.As a member of the upper-class society, Wharton is inevitably involved in this consumer tide. She keenly feels the change of the time and artistically displays it in her works. So in this thesis, the author selects consumer culture as the research perspective to discuss Wharton's"three novels of manners"in order to dig out the relationships between them.This thesis can be divided into five parts. The introduction part deals with a brief introduction of Wharton and her novels as well as the literature reviews of her works from different period both at home and abroad. In addition, the significance of research is pointed out. Chapter one is devoted to the illustration of the reason for the formation of a consumer society, the emerging of consumer culture, the characteristics of it and the relationship between consumer culture and Edith Wharton's life. Chapter two focuses on the features of consumer culture separately reflected in the selected Wharton's"three novels of manners"from the aspects of the conspicuous leisure life style and conspicuous residences. In addition, the family love in consumer society also can reflect the feature of the consumer culture, because in the consumer society it has lost the original meaning and has already been replaced by money. Chapter three deals with women and consumer culture in Wharton's three novels in order to confirm that woman is the victim in consumer society from two aspects. One is women's tendency to be consumer goods. The other is women's being consumed as commodity.According to the above discussion, a conclusion has been reached that Wharton is apt to blend the embryonic form of consumer culture into her novels and Wharton has focused on consumer culture all her life. What's more, Wharton expresses the idea of mutual respect among men and women, and emphasizes the family responsibility, which points out the correct way for us who are living in the 21st century consumer society.