Questions: How does Wharton explore gender equality and societal expectations for women through her analysis of late 19th century and early 20th century social structure? How does Wharton’s depiction of women’s role in society compare to the expectations and treatment of women today?
Answer: Although both The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence address the topic of women and their supposed place in society, Wharton uses different means to tackle these concepts. In The Age of Innocence, Wharton juxtaposes the two main female characters, Ellen Olenska and May Welland, in order to analyse women’s role in society. May Welland is quiet and reserved, as she conforms to society’s expectations of women through her marriage to Newland Archer, a fellow member of New York’s upper class. Despite May’s worries that Newland loves another woman, she does not want to draw attention to her situation and call off the engagement. After their marriage, May is a loyal wife to Newland, as she senses he is in love with Ellen Olenska, yet she does not hope for divorce or separation because she does not want to be involved in a scandal. May does whatever it takes to fit in with New York’s elite society, as she does not form opinions of her own and agrees with society’s general attitudes towards people and events. May fits the stereotype of the wife who stays at home with her children while their father goes to work, as May remains in her relationship with Archer in order to fulfill her role as a mother. Not only does May conform to society’s expectations of the domestic woman through her role as a mother, but she also is not exposed to other societies and cultures. May travels very infrequently and rarely leaves the New York, preventing herself from possessing a more worldly and educated mindset. This further prevents May from becoming an intellectual who thinks for herself.
Ellen Olenska serves as a foil to May Olenska, as she defies society’s expectations of women, while May’s main goal is to conform. Although Ellen is able to live freely, as she does not follow the restrictions of society, she suffers from being treated as an outcast because of her controversial actions. May is is boxed in by the rules created by society for women, but she is welcomed by fellow members of New York’s elite. By seeking a divorce, Ellen creates the very scandal May avoids at all costs. While Ellen seeks happiness though living freely of her former husband, May finds hope in being accepted by society. By placing importance in her independence, Ellen is able to act according to her own desires while achieving her concept of contentment. Contrastly to May’s lack of travel, Ellen has a worldly state of mind and brings her more informal European traditions to New York. This way of life is deemed unacceptable by the members of New York’s elite because it is different from the traditions with which they are accustomed. Society in this time period is unwilling to accept change, as it rejects Ellen Olenska as a member of New York’s elite because of its fear of the unknown. Ellen challenges society’s expectations of women as she tries to be independent in a time period where women were considered dependent upon men.
The House of Mirth provides another perspective on women’s role in society as the novel is written from the point of view of a woman instead of a man. Lily Bart wishes to live independently similar to Ellen Olenska. Ellen is more successful in this endeavor than Lily, as Ellen divorces her husband and assumedly survives, while Lily never finds a husband whom she can rely on financially and dies at the end of the novel. Although Lily’s death is not a direct result of not finding a spouse, Wharton comments on the difficulties of living without a man in this time period through Lily’s demise. Not only does Lily struggle financially, but she also loses her social standing as she continues to age and remains single. Despite Lily’s desperate attempts to conform to society’s expectations in order to gain the approval of her friends and family, she never marries and therefore does not fulfill the role of a domestic housewife that her community so desires. Although Lily falls in love with Lawrence Selden, she does not believe him to be of significant social or financial standings and suppresses her love for him. Lily is forced to engage with men whose company she does not enjoy because she must find a source of funds. Lily’s sufferings show society’s ruthless treatment of women during this time period, as they disregard women’s needs and desires in order to preserve the ideal of the innocent and naive woman who relies on a man for survival.
Although women today have gained much greater independence and are able to support themselves financially without the assistance of men, many women still believe they must find a husband in order to be happy. Many women and girls today fear becoming a “cat lady,” meaning they will use animals as a replacement for a spouse. This concept has become the embodiment of the fear of never marrying, but is considered by many to mark an unsuccessful or unfulfilling life. Too many women and girls place their importance in their relationship status, as they create their own dependence on men. Although there are still unfair wage gaps between genders and other similar aspects of society in which women are at a disadvantage, women must work together to promote change instead of reinforcing stereotypical views of women. While one would like to believe the concepts in Wharton’s The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth do not apply today, many of the themes throughout these novels still ring true today. Unlike the women of Lily Bart’s community who turn their backs to her, we must help one another to defy society’s expectations of a woman dependent on a man and pave our own paths.
Edith Wharton 