Anti-Semitic Or Not:Edith Wharton's Representation Of Simon Rosedale In The House Of Mirth

The House of Mirth,composed during a period with marked anti-Semitism,has remained relatively deserted in terms of racial study by Wharton critics.Besides,these current existing researches reach an agreement on Wharton's ideology of and attitude towards Jews:Edith Wharton is anti-Semite in Tee House of Mirth for sure and the characterization is the result of her anti-Semitism.However,if we could manage to be immune to such a fixed conclusion and conduct a profound analysis on the text,we would not simplify such a complex character in such a concept.The thesis intends to first deconstruct the fixed Jewish stereotype and then re-construct the image of Rosedale not only from his physical attribute,but also from his social status,intellectual feature,spiritual and social activity so that readers might be able to better understand Wharton's attitude towards this Jewish character.The thesis consists of the introduction,the conclusion and five other chapters.Introduction illustrates the rational and purpose of this research based on the social background of The House of Mirth and quests the agreed conclusion on Wharton's attitude then.Besides,the significance of body language to the characterization in literature is also included here together with a brief retrospection of previous research of literary body language.Chapter One concentrates on the macro and micro background of The House of Mirth so that readers could have a relatively comprehensive glance of the surroundings.It begins with the anti-Semitism in the late nineteenth century and the very early of the twentieth century.Then with a list of Wharton's friends who hold anti-Semitic positions,this chapter also highlights Wharton's friendship with four Jews.In Chapter Two,the thesis casts a close shot both on Rosedale's physical appearance and his smile,and presents him as an Oriental Other:feminine and unattractive.Then drawn from his appearance and smile again,the following section transfers his physical deficiency and feminine smile into his gradual gaining of masculinity and dominance.Chapter Three discusses the characterization of Rosedale from the combination of his huge success in economy and his sensitivity in arts.Such a bounding deconstructs those potential negative qualities attached to the parvenu Jew,such as the vulgarity,greed,and moral corruption and presents him as an aesthete and a connoisseur instead.Moreover,the combination of commerce and art draws him closer to Edith Wharton since the writer"sells" herself as an artist.Chapter Four explores the roles religion plays in the history of anti-Semitism and the absence of Rosedale's religion and uncovers the connotation of Wharton's treatment of religion in The House of Mirth.Despite the various approaches to the Jewish character Simon Rosedale,it would be of necessity to cast attention to his image in social activities.Therefore,Chapter Five studies how Mr.Rosedale balances his power relations within the upper class social settings so as to climb to the top of the social ladder.The thesis,from various perspectives,aims to elaborate that the characterization of Simon Rosedale is not resulted from Edith Wharton's anti-Semitic ideology.