Subjectivity in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth presents an interesting study of the social construction of subjectivity. The Victorian society which Wharton's characters inhabit is defined by a rigid structure of morals and manners in which one's identity is determined by apparent conformity with or transgression of social norms. What is conspicuous about this brand of social identification is its decidedly linguistic nature. In this context, behaviors themselves are rendered as text, and the incessant social appraisal in which the characters of the novel participate is a process of deciphering this script of behavior. People's actions here are read, as it were, according to the unique social grammar of this society. The novel's treatment of this conception of social reading is brought to the fore through its devaluing of written texts in favor of legible behaviors.
The novel signals this pattern from its opening. In the first scene we are introduced to Selden, engaged in what we discover is a typical activity for the novel's personae, the silent, personal, interrogation of another person. "If she had appeared to be catching a train," we are told, "he might have inferred that he had come on her in an act of transition between one and another of the country houses which disputed her presenceŠ"(5‹emphases mine). Here, Selden, at his first glimpse of Lily, has taken to conjecturing all manner of explanations for her simple presence in the train station. He, like all members of his social niche, does not shy away from judgement until he is more fully appraised of her situation. Even, the slightest "air of irresolution" gives him license to divert his at...
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Edith Wharton’s novel, The House of Mirth, is the story of a girl named Lily Bart trying to find a place for herself in society. Wharton used allusion throughout the book to aid the reader in understanding the events of the narrative. The following essay will highlight three allusions Wharton used, and explain how they helped the reader to understand the corresponding events from the book.
In the beginning of the play, Hale enters as a strict law abiding citizen enjoying his position of power and his ability to make the decisions in Salem. An example of his defense of the law is, “Man remember until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven,” (Miller 68) which is Hale defending the recent arrests he has recently made through god. He is saying how a person can change from an angel in your eyes to a monster as in the idea of the devil and how the devil was viewed as a beautiful archangel in god’s eyes until the devil betrayed god. This quote also displays...
Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 2189.
The play opens with Reverend Parris, a greedy ill respected man, praying over his daughter, Betty Parris who lies inert on her bed, apparently in a trance. Through conversations with Reverend Paris and his niece Abigail Williams and several other girls we soon discover that the girls, along with Abigail and Betty have been involved in suspicious activities in the forest. During these suspicious activities Abigail drank chicken blood to kill Elizabeth proctor. In fear of this being revealed she and the girls start accusing innocent village people. Then we meet John Proctor, Elizabeth’s husband, he is a good, highly respected man, who is holding a dark secret about his affair with Abigail. Abigail is desperate to have John back but John doesn’t wan...
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“As he entered the box his eyes met Miss Welland’s, and he saw that she had instantly understood his motive, though the family dignity which both considered so high a virtue would not permit her to tell him so. The persons of their world lived in an atmosphere of faint implications and pale delicacies, and the fact that he and she understood each other without a word seemed to the young man to bring them nearer than any explanation would have done.” (Wharton 16) This statement vividly illustrates the power of the unsaid within New York society during the 1870’s, the time in which The Age of Innocence was set. At that time, there existed a powerful set of rules, regulations, and codes pertaining to one’s conduct that were most often unspoken and, therefore, were never “formally” outlined. However, this did not in any way lessen the degree to which these standards were adhered to, and, thereby, upheld as if they were carved in the same stone as the Ten Commandments. Because New York Society did not have much need for religion, other than for rites of passage, the rules of society were to them like rules of their religion. As a woman who was raised in this society, Edith Wharton was able to illustrate with great clarity the influence that the unsaid had when it came to knowing how one should behave if society is to look on them favourably. She further goes on to express the perils of a life lived within these particular codes.
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The journal article The Myth of Black Sports Supremacy written by Gary A. Sailes addresses the stereotypes, and furthermore discusses how said stereotypes are not true. For example, Sailes acknowledges that there are anatomical differences that could possibly provide African-Americans some advantages, however, Sailes explains how these advantages are insignificant unless they are fully developed through vigorous training and by participating in a nurturing and competitive environment that creates an opportunity for success (Sailes 485). In short, Sailes argues the competitive field is leveled, and athletic success yields to those who work for it. The Essay The Makings of the Perfect Athlete written by Yannis P. Pitsiladis discusses the physical build of athletes, particularly those of west/east Africa. Pitsiladis discusses why athletes from Western African perform well in short distance races, and why athletes from Eastern
Reidhead, Julia, ed. Norton Anthology of English Literature vol. 7, 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2000.
Reverend Hale had come to help the town of Salem but he ended up convicting a lot of innocent people to their deaths and he feels regret for what his actions and decisions caused. A good
...famous figure that openly identifies with children is Michael Jackson. From the young age of five Michael, has always performed in front of large crowds. Because the majority his life has always been on stage, Michael did not have the “ideal” childhood. As became older he explicitly expressed his fondness of children. Michael identified himself with children not only because the innocence they posses but because he himself wanted to be a child. The desire to being a child is not uncommon. There are some negative responsibilities that are associated with adulthood as opposed to childhood. Michael probably did not know how to properly handle these issues and reverted to being a child again. Since childhood is usually a simpler time in one’s life it was the most obvious approach that Michael fond to stay away from all the negative things of being an adult.
Abrams et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, sixth edition, vol. 1. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.