An Analysis Of Conspicuous Consumption In Edith Wharton’s Two Major Novels

Edith Wharton(1862-1937)an outstanding American writer, was born in a noble family in New York, which led to her focus on the life of upper class in the materialistic society as the main subject of her works. The House of Mirth earned the fame for her, and turned her from an amateur into a professional writer. The Age of Innocence, which witnessed her peak in literary creation, made her the first female writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in America. These two novels, which most represent her literary works, are selected as the object of this research. Based on Veblen’s consumerism, this thesis analyzes the conspicuous consumption manifested by the characters in the novels to unveil the worthlessness and frivolity of the upper class from late 19 th century to early 20 th century, as they pursued physical comfort and vanity. The discussions of marriage, kinship and friendship as exchange for interests are also included, to serve as a warning and lesson for people in China which is progressing rapidly.This thesis is divided into three parts: introduction, body and conclusion.The introductory part makes a brief sketch on Wharton’s life experience, description of The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence, her primary literary achievements, and summarizes the study on her and her novels both at home and abroad, and interprets Veblen’s concept of “conspicuous consumption”, including the significance and feasibility of application of consumerism in the two novels.The body is consisted of three chapters.The first chapter discusses the manifestation of conspicuous consumption of the leisure class within the two works of Wharton. Based on Veblen’s concept of “conspicuous consumption”, it divides consumer behaviors into “conspicuous consumption” and “conspicuous leisure”, the former of which is the material consumption characterized by consumption of extravagant clothes and grand mansion, while the latter of which is immaterial consumption featured by leisure lifestyle.The second chapter focuses on the motive of conspicuous consumption of the leisure class. By virtue of Veblen’s important concept of “conspicuous consumption” and “conspicuous leisure”, the ostentatious behaviors are analyzed, and further revealed that the motives lie in the urge of gaining or holding esteem to satisfy one’s vanity.The third chapter analyzes the consequences of people’s conspicuous consumption. As the leisure class are obsessed with conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure in order to gain the esteem, and to acquire the reputation and high social status, they suffer the spiritual emptiness and degradation; to achieve their own purpose in a money-oriented society, marriage serves as the mutual benefit tool, the marrying partner becomes the investment and thus the marriage seems just like a transaction; the interpersonal relationships bonded by families and friends have been transformed into indifferent kinship and hypocritical friendship.Finally, through the description of lives of the leisure class in the novels The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence, Wharton expresses her concern about the people’s empty lives and her hatred for the commercialization of marriage, kinship and friendship. She criticizes the twisted value caused by conspicuous consumption, which leads to pursuing social status, and showing off with success and fame by conspicuous consumption. In a society which is rapidly growing and overwhelmed with material desires, especially with rapid development of the media, conspicuous consumption has already sneaked into people’s daily lives, which should draw instant attention of the society to guide them to get rid of conspicuous consumption, enrich their cultural life and bring more positive energy to the society.