Resistance And Compromise

An American modern woman writer, Edith Wharton (1862-1937) occupies an important position in realism of the late19th and early20th century which is best known for her stories and ironic novels about upper class people. As a woman writer, Edith Wharton is aware of the status and role of women at that time. She demonstrates in her works not only the experiences and fates of women but also the perplexity of men, hence she ranks top in the classic women writers in America as well as the whole world.In the late19th century, the United States was in an economic boom as a result of the Industrial Revolution, the abolition of slavery and Westward Movement. Traditional Roles of woman had done great harm on woman’s physical and psychological development. 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.Through an exploration of Newland’s evolving self-identification in his relationship with the two female characters, this thesis reveals his struggling feminist ideology. May’s feminist ideology is comparatively conservative. Growing up in old New York, she is very familiar with its social conventions and approves her own role in maintaining in a family and raising her children. However, when dealing with Newland’s betrayal, she displays an unusual female strength. Ellen is a new woman who best represents the feminist spirit. She bravely fights for her freedom and is also courageous enough to make sacrifices. Ellen’s progressive feminist ideology, though nearly a century later, can still offer modern women something to learn from. In its manifestation of individual feminist ideology, this thesis aims to demonstrate that women should make their constant effort and play their own important roles in order to overcome the restrictions of a male-dominated society.