An analysis of frustration in selected novels of Edith Wharton
Although one may appraise a work of literature as to theme, structure, characterization, and plot and may determine its merits solely by concentrating on that work alone, ignoring the author as a person and the period or environment in which it was written, one benefits from a wider scope of investigation in order to enhance interest, understanding, and , perhaps, appreciation. To understand where particular works fit into an author's literary corpus and to know that author's position in a literary milieu clarify the study of the works . Understanding the conventions of the period and the convictions of the author helps the reader to determine the purpose of the author and to evaluate better the prs'.ser. ta tion. A brief look, therefore, at the body of Edith Wharton's works and a sununary of her place in American liter a t.ure will help to establish a basis for a more cornpre-- hensive study of selected works. ' Mrs. Wharton, nee Edith Newb0ld ·Jone s, descended from old and disting1iish2d American ~;tock" She was born in New York City in 1862 1 a time when the country was in the throes of Civil War. This disaster brought about a revolution in manners as deplorable to her as a revolution in government., Mrs. Wharton's fiction later was to reflect the impact of this social change. An inflated economy, also a result of the war, necessitated her family's prolonged stay abroad following the end of the war. Her travels in Europe, e specially in Italy, France, and England, had a great influence on her; and her impressions gained there were to be transmitted later into her literary works, both fiction and non-fiction.
"Hata ingawa mtu anaweza kutathmini kazi ya fasihi kama mada, muundo, tabia, na njama, na anaweza kuamua sifa zake kwa kuzingatia kazi hiyo peke yake, akipuuza mwandishi kama mtu na kipindi au mazingira ambayo iliandikwa, mtu hufaidika na wigo mkubwa wa uchunguzi ili kuongeza maslahi, uelewa, na labda uthamini. """ Kuelewa mahali ambapo kazi maalum zinafaa katika corpus ya fasihi ya mwandishi na kujua msimamo wa mwandishi katika mazingira ya fasihi hufafanua utafiti wa kazi. Kuelewa mikataba ya kipindi na imani ya mwandishi husaidia msomaji kuamua lengo la mwandishi na kutathmini vizuri prs.ser. ta tion. Kwa hiyo, kuangalia kwa ufupi mwili wa kazi za Edith Wharton na sunflower ya nafasi yake katika fasihi ya Marekani itasaidia kuanzisha msingi wa utafiti zaidi wa kina wa kazi zilizochaguliwa. "Mwanamke wa kwanza wa familia ya ""Warton"" (Edith Newbold Jones) alizaliwa mwaka 1862 katika mji wa New York, wakati ambapo nchi ilikuwa katika vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe." Msiba huu ulileta mapinduzi katika tabia kama deplorable kwake kama mapinduzi katika serikali. riwaya ya Bi Wharton baadaye ilikuwa kutafakari athari ya mabadiliko haya ya kijamii. Uchumi uliopanda, pia matokeo ya vita, ulihitaji kukaa kwa muda mrefu kwa familia yake nje ya nchi baada ya mwisho wa vita. Safari zake za Ulaya, hasa Italia, Ufaransa na Uingereza, zilikuwa na ushawishi mkubwa juu yake, na hisia zake zilizopatikana huko zilipaswa kupitishwa baadaye katika kazi zake za fasihi, hadithi na hadithi zisizo za hadithi.