Women's struggle for pursuing happiness in edith
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Date
2017
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university of Oum- El- Bouaghi
Abstract
The Gilded age is regarded as a controversial era of the American history because corruption and the loss of ethics formed the basis for industrialization and rapid development. Since New York was the beating heart of the time, it witnessed the flock of Nouveaux Riches who wished to establish themselves financially and socially. During the period, women struggled hardly to pursue their happiness overshadowed by patriarchy within the high society New York. Since their survival was granted by proper marriages, women lived in constant rivalry for securing their future. Edith Wharton through her The House of Mirth (1905) criticized the ruthless and shallow life of aristocracy at the turn of the 20th century. She also reflected her intellectual influence by Social Darwinism in her work. Therefore, this research aims at highlighting the situation of women at the beginning of the 20th century New York. It also sheds light upon the various interpretations of the concept of happiness by the female characters in the novel and their struggle to pursue happiness. Moreover, the research employs Social Darwinism and Feminist criticism to highlight the challenges women go through to pursue their happiness mainly, the patriarchal social codes governing the upper class.
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Keywords
The gilded age, The pursuit of happiness, Edith wharton