Another aspect that I had found interesting was the theme of indecisive men throughout Wharton's stories. In Summer, we find that Harney is actually engaged while he is seeing Charity. Subconsciously Harney's intentions were to never marry Charity. But throughout the novel, especially in her eyes, he had made it appear that he was thinking about it, yet he would constantly change his mind. Wharton's character Waythorn, from "The Other Two," is also an indecisive man. At first he is completely against the idea of meeting or interacting with his wife's ex-husbands. But when he does meet them he cannot decide if she was wronged in her marriage, or if they were actually fine men.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Post #7: Edith Wharton and Men
In certain aspects I had found Edith Wharton's Summer to be surprising, while at the same time not so much. I had found it daring of Wharton to choose to write about such a scandalous topic as marriage out of wedlock. Yet at the same time it was profound in the ways that she had shown Charity's mental and emotional transitions. Not only had she later found salvation, but her views on life had changed. When she was first with Harney, Charity had a very romantic view on life. However her pregnancy and the choices she made had changed that.
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That's a good point about Edith Wharton's men, Bushra. They claim to have certain values, yet when reality or practicality intervenes, they don't always uphold them.
ReplyDeleteBushra, I like your point about the men in Wharton’s works. They almost seem weak. Both Harney and Waythorn struggle to hold to their convictions. Also, in Ethan Frome, Zeena appears to have the power in her marriage to Ethan. She wants Mattie to leave, and he cannot stop her even though it is his house. While Wharton’s characters tend not to be perfect, the women typically are stronger than the men. Even Charity, a young girl whose romantic views where being shattered, is strong enough to release Harney from his promise to her.
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