An Interpretation Of The Age Of Innocence From The Perspective Of Space Theory

Edith Wharton is one of the best female American writers at the turn of the 20th century.Her representative work The Age of Innocence was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and she was the first female writer to win the honor of this reputation.The Age of Innocence,set in the Old New York where she lived,describes the complex love story between Newland Archer,Ellen Olenska and May Welland,which directly and indirectly presents various aspects of life of New York upper class.The thesis tries to make use of the space theory to analyze the personal character,survival dilemma and the conflicts between old and new values,to explore different spaces' influences on the characters' choices and destinies.Through close reading,the thesis attempts to analyze the spatial symbols and characters in details,and to discover the important roles of those spatial symbols which also show the concepts s of the writer and her attitudes toward the whole society.From the perspective of the space theory,The Age of Innocence presents some important spatial symbols including "Society","House","Party",and "Theater.These spaces not only have the special significance of the textual construction,but also imply the great influences on the molding of characters.These spaces are not only the places where people live in,work in and communicate with each other,but also the places in which they show their personalities,choices and different destiny."Society" is a general background which imperceptibly influences three protagonists.They want to chase their own happiness,but they cannot violate the whole rules and customs.They had to live within the constraints of—their "society".The decoration and atmosphere of the "house" both influence the characters.From the location and decoration of the Ellen's house,she is a different and independent new woman.She is totally different from May.Although Archer has a rebellious mind,the family "house" constraints him from accepting the current situation and to be a formal"New Yorker"."Party" and "Theater" are like splendid stages in which three protagonists showed themselves.These spaces are not only a kind of location which conversations,events or stories occurred,but also a kind of narrative signs which present the personal identity and social status of different protagonists:Newland Archer is a gentleman who has no courage to realize his dream;Ellen Olenska is a new woman who is independent,brave and dares to chase her happiness;May Welland is a real lady who is elegant,innocent and pure.From the perspective of the spatial criticism,The Age of Innocence is not only a sad love story,but also the presentation of everyday life occurred in various spaces in New York.Due to the invisible constraints of the "Society",Archer and Ellen could not live a happy life with true love as they wished.Ellen chose to challenge authority and chase her dream as a new woman.Newland Archer,just as his name implies,wanted to transcend himself in the "New Land".However,he was just like bow and arrow that manipulated by others and social rules.May is as traditional as what her name implies:a symbol of purity and elegance.She is harmonious with the whole society.In general,The Age of Innocence not only presents the survival condition of these protagonists,but also implies Edith Wharton's humanistic concern.