"New Woman" In "Old New York"

Edith Wharton was one of the most influential female writers in America at the end of 19th century who wrote many works of different genres, such as novels, poems, autobiographies, critic essays, traveling diaries and proses on house decoration.As a female writer, Wharton took woman's suffering in a male-dominated society and the way to woman's emancipation as her main concerns, which could be reflected in her characterization of the heroine Ellen as a"New Woman"in her classic work--The Age of Innocence.In the late 19th century, the United States was in an economic boom as a result of the Industrial Revolution, the abolition of slavery and Westward Movement. However, it was still a conservative society in politics and culture, which could be represented in the characteristics of the social background of"Old New York"in The Age of Innocence. Although the economy in"Old New York"developed in a fast speed, woman in the society was in the position of"the second sex". Traditional Roles of woman had done great harm on woman's physical and psychological development. Meanwhile, traditional marriage morality hindered woman's pursuit of freedom. In addition, social etiquettes which were signs of politeness and gentleness acted as ways of further imprisonment of woman in the house. Consequently, women with pioneering ideas were in retrospection of patriarchal ideology embodied in these conventions which formed hindrance for woman's emancipation. Therefore,"New Woman"emerged in the special historical period.This paper will be dedicated to the interpretation of the heroine Ellen Olenska as a"New Woman"in"Old New York". Her efforts of challenges to the traditional roles of woman, traditional marriage morality and social etiquettes will prove her a"New Woman"who has the courage to pursue her own freedom and liberation in the patriarchal society of"Old New York"...