真年代中的主要人物性格分析

IChapterOneIntroductionEdithWhartonisoneofthefamoussocialcustomsnovelistsinthelate19thcenturyandtheearly20thcentury.Havinggrownupinupper-class,Whartonwasfamiliarwithherlivingenvironmentsothatherworkshoweditsaccurateportrayalofthe19thcenturyAmericanupperclasslives.MostofherworksarebasedontheNewYorkupperclasssociety,whichtrulydescribesthesocialcustomsandetiquetteofhertimeinNewYork,revealingthebondageoftraditionalconceptstohumannature.IntheAmericanliteraryhistory,Whartonenjoysahighreputation,whichcanbecomparedwithHenryJames.However,forvariousreasons,therearefewresearchesonWhartoninourcountry,andtheonlycommentsonhisworksaremostlysocialcriticism.ButWharton'sbrillianceliesnotonlyinherworkdemonstratingtheintoleranceoftheupperclasses,butalsoinherportrayalofhercharacters.Herworkdeeplyandthoroughlydissectsthefrailtiesofhumannature.TheAgeofInnocence(1920)madeherbethefirstwomantowinthePulitzerPrizein1921.TheAgeofInnocencedescribesanupper-classcouple’simpendingmarriage,buttheappearanceofthebride’scousin,whosearrivalmenacestheirmarriage.ThisnovelpresentsthecomplicatedemotionalproblemsamongNewlandArcher,EllenOlenskaandMayWelland.InTheAgeofInnocence,hercharactersareconstantlymovingbackandforthbetweentwoplanes,oneofrebellionandfreedom,theotheroftraditionandduty.Oneisideal,theotherisreality.Becauseofthecontradictionbetweenthesetwolevels,andbecausetheydon’thaveachoice,sothattheygetintoadilemma,todeathordeadlife.ThispaperanalyzesWharton’sthemefromtheperspectiveofthecharactercharacteristicsandcausesoftheprotagonistsinhernovelTheAgeofInnocence.NewlandArchergrewupin“OldNewYork”society.Heisthestandardgentlemanbredinasocietywherethereisnoroomforindividualityorinnovation.Infact,contradictionsandstrugglesranthroughthefirsthalfofNewland’sloveandlife.ThearrivalofAlanbroughthopetoNewland.Incontrasttothebeautifulbutshy,convention-boundMay,Ellenwasbold,unrestrained,unconventional,mature,confident,andcharming.HelongedtohaveAlan.HeadmiredeverythingaboutEllen,hischarm,hisfreemindandhisrichsoul,buthecouldnotimaginehiswifedoingthesame.Heseemedtobetryingtofreehimselffromthesocialbonds,buttheflamehadbeensnuffedoutbeforeitcouldignite,andthehandwasthatoftheimpassiveNewYorksociety,including,ofcourse,includingalsothecalculatingMayandthetraditionallycowardlyNewlandhimself.ChapterTwoBriefIntroductionofAuthorandHerWorksTheAgeofInnocenceisEdithWhartons’masterpieceandoneofhermostskillfullystructurednovels.Basedonherownexperience,sheportraysableaklovestorybehindtheglitzofNewYork’supperclassinthelate1870sandearly1880s.TheAgeofInnocenceisasoft,elegantnovel.Itisared-roseandwhite-roseconundrum,astrugglebetweensocialconventionsandindividualfreedom.ManyscholarsandreadersagreethatTheAgeofInnocenceisfundamentallyastoryabouttryingtoreconciletheoldworldwiththenew.2.1IntroductiontoAuthorEdithWhartonTheperiodfromthelate19thcenturytotheearly20thcenturywasatimeoftransformationintheUnitedStates.WhenreadersanalyzeWharton’swork,itiseasytoseethattheauthorhasarichpersonallifeandanunhappymarriage,andthattheauthoraddshisownlifeandlovetotheplot.AsafemalewriteraftertheCivilWar,Whartondescribes,withsensitivetouchandcarefulobservation,women'spersonalpursuitsandemotionaldevelopmentinamale-dominatedworld,especiallytheirdilemmabetweentraditionalmarriage,familyresponsibilitiesandpersonalfreedom.EdithWhartonwasbornintoaprominentNewYorkfamily,thedaughteroftheJonesfamily.In1885,shemarriedawealthyBostonman.EdwardWharton,13yearshersenior.Goodashewas,theyhadnocommonproblemstodiscuss.Afewyearslater,Edwardbecamementallyill,andtheydivorced.ShelivedinParisfromthetimeoftheauthor’sdivorceuntilherdeathin1937.EdithWhartonwroteasawaytorelievethedrudgeryofupper-classfamilylife.Shebeganpublishingnovelsin1880andachievedunexpectedsuccesswithherfirstcollectionofshortstoriesin1889.Her1905novelTheHouseofMirthmadeheroneofthemostinfluentialAmericanwritersofthefirsttwodecadesofthe20thcentury.Inall,shehaswrittennineteennovellas,publishedelevencollectionsofshortstories,andnumerousnon-fictionworks.2.2IntroductiontoTheAgeofInnocenceSetinhighsocietyinthelate1870sandearly1880s,ittellsthestoryofNewlandArcher,ayoungnoblemanwhoisunabletochoosebetweenMayWellandandhercousin,CountessEllenOlenska.Newlandwasalawyer,andhewasapoliteyoungman.HewasoverjoyedtobemarriedtoMay,andtoannouncehisengagementtoher,butonlyatapartytoseeoffMay’scousinEllen.Ellenmarriedavainaristocraticdescendant,unwillingtodecorateherhusband’slivingroomasavaseandlovelessmarriageoflivingsacrifice,“theCountessOlenskawishestosueherhusbandfordivorce”[1]78,backtohishometown.Shewasregardedasadeviantslutbecauseherbehaviorwasnotinaccordancewiththeconventionsofthesociety,andwaslookeddownuponanddespisedbyherfriendsandrelatives,whileNewlandwasdeeplyattractedtoEllen,whowasfreeandopinionated,andtoEllen,whowasattractedtohimbyhissincerehelp.Bycontrast,May,whohasbeencultivatedbytheoldaristocraticetiquette,isconventionalandtasteless.However,afraidoftheenormouspowerofsocialconventions,NewlandandMaystillheldtheweddingearly.AfterNewlandandMaygotmarried,Newlandfeltthattraditionalmarriagewasboringandboring.Then,sometimes,hedatedEllenandwantedtoelopewithher.However,Maywaspregnant.ThisnewscausedAlantoputafirmstoptohisaffairwithNewlandandleaveParis,andNewlandfaithfullyperformedhisdutiestosocietyandfamilyfromthenon.Untilmanyyearslater;Maydiedofillness,andtheeldestson,whohadtravelledtoPariswithNewlandbeforetheirmarriage,askedhisfathertovisitEllen.AttheEllendoorNewlandhadlostthecouragetoenter.AfterNewlandhadsatforalongtimeonabenchintheparkdownstairs,returnedtothehotelalone.Intermsofthesubjectmatter,Wharton’sviewoftheupperclasscanbefullyexplainedinTheAgeofInnocence,whichiscontradictory,negativeandpositiveatthesametime.Whartonmercilesslymockedthehighsocietyanditsridiculousconservativemoresthatshehasknownsowellsincechildhood,butalsoaffirmsthevaluesofdecency,honestyandresponsibility.ChapterThreeThePersonalitiesoftheMainCharactersofinTheAgeofInnocenceEdithWhartonwasoneofthemostimportantwriters,intheUnitedStatesatthetime.Hernovelsfocusontheinfluenceofthematerialandspiritualforcesofthesocietyontheinnerworldofthecharacters,deeplyexposethehypocrisyoftheuppersociety,andhavemoralinsightandhighaestheticvalue.Inthenovel,thethreemaincharactersallhavetheirdistinctivecharacter.3.1ThePersonalityofNewlandArcherIn19thcenturyNewYork,theupperclasseshadtheirownwayoflife.Newland,theyounglawyer,thoughamemberoftheupperclass,withanoblestatus,butlivedthesamelifeaseveryoneelse,andhecouldonlybearitinsilence.However,Newland,whoissupposedtomarryMay,foundhimselffallinginlovewithMay’scousin,CountessEllen,whohasreturnedfromEurope.Thetwotriedtobreakfreefromthebondsaroundthem,butfailedintheend.NewlandArcherhadatlastfledfromhislove,fromfreedom,underthegreatforceofsocialconvention.Hestillchosetobeconservativeandlivedinthehypocriticalupperclass.3.1.1TraditionandConservativenessNewland’sfierceststrugglewithhimselfwasoverhismarriage.Inpatriarchalsocieties,inthe1870s,womenmarriedprimarilytopleaseandservetheirhusbands.Formen,marriagecanbeaboutexpandingtheirinterests(suchasthemarriageoftwolargefamilies),satisfyingtheirvanity,oraccomplishingtasks.Simplyput,ithasnothingtodowithlove.ThousandsofyearsoftraditionalcustomsandsolidfeudalsecularshacklesboundNewland,repressedNewlandtofreedom,boundtheheartofadventurenewthings.YoungNewlanddidscoffatmanyofthetraditionalpreceptsoftheNewYorkupperclassesofthelate19thcentury,suchasthefactthatnoonewasallowedtoenteranother’sboxduringasoloatanopera;Inthedrawing-room,theladycanonlysitonthesofaandwaitforthegentlemantocomeandtalktoher;FashionableclothesboughtinParishavetositinwardrobesformonthsbeforetheycanbeworn.Butintheend,thesewerejusttraditionalniceties.Inthelastchapterofthenovel,NewlandwasonlyafewstepsawayfromEllen,buthedidnotmove.Asafather,Newlandseemstohavesuddenlybecomeold-fashionedintheturnofthepage,butintruth,Newlandhasneverdeniedtheheartofthelate19thcenturyNewYorkupper-classtradition.3.1.2WeaknessandCowardlinessNewlandmayhaveslowlycometoregardthetraditionalcustomsofthatsocietyasasecondhabitofhisown,buthewastooafraidtostepintheway.Thiscontradictionhasbeenbotheringhim,makinghimtangledandpainful.Newlandlearnedoftheheavyresponsibility,however,whenMaytoldhimshewaspregnant.Manyyearslater,Maypassedaway,NewlandandhersoncametoParisatEllen’sinvitation,butNewlanddidnotgoupstairsintheend.Newland’sfinalabandonmentcanbesaidtoreflecthiscomplexmindset.Inhislong-termmarriagewithMei,thepotentialresistanceconsciousnesshascompletelydisappeared,andhehasalwaysbeenafraidofacceptinganythingnew.PerhapshistrueloveforAllennolongerexists,leavingonlymemoriesbehind.SothereadercanbesurethatNewlandhasbeencompletelyoverwhelmedbythepowerfulpressuresofsociety.Inhisheart,NewlandtakedpityonEllenanddecidedtofightwithhisfamilyandsocietyatlarge,supportingEllenindivorcingherlibertinehusband.Butwhenhewassenttodoitasalawyer,hepersuadedEllen,againsthiswill,tosacrificehimselffortheso-calledgoodofthegroup.Hehimselfcouldnotgetridoftheresponsibilityandmoralimprisonmentimposedonhimbythesociety,sohechoseMay.Hewantedtobreaktraditioninhisbones,buthedidn’thavethecourage.“InspiteofNewland’ssinceresupportforEllen’sdivorce,inspiteofhisloveforEllen,inspiteofhisdesiretobefreefromhismarriagetoMay,inspiteofhisdesireforafreerlife,heneverdaredtobreakwithhisclass,andhiscowardicemadehimfollowtheherd.”[2]31ItisNewland’scowardicethatrobbedhimofhisrightfulplaceonthemoralscale.Hislovewasfullofregret,hismarriagewasfullofbitterness,andhelivedinadullmarriagewhiletryinghardtopretendthathewascontent.HehasfailedMayandEllen,owesthehappinessofbothwomen,andlivesatormentedlife.3.2ThePersonalityofEllenOlenska“Ellenplaysanignoblerolethroughoutthenovel.Itwastruethattherewereglimmerinhercharacter,thatherdesireforfreedom,herboldandunrestrainedcharacter,andherunhappymarriage,wereworthyofpraiseorpity.”[2]31Ellen’sparentswerecontinentaltourists,andafterawanderingchildhood,shelostbothofthemandwasadoptedbyaGypsy①aunt.Ellenreceivedaneducationinartandmusicatanearlyage,whichwasexpensivebutprecarious.Shelatermarriedalarger-than-lifePolishnobleman,andtheearl.Ellenwasdisappointedinhermarriageanddisillusioned.ShewentbacktoNewYorkandtriedtogetadivorce.3.2.1IndependenceandRebellionEllen’sreturntoNewYorkwasinsearchoffreedomandindependence.Shelongedtobefreefromthecrueloppressionofherhusbandwhoimprisonedher,andtobefullyAmericanagaininthewarmembraceofherfamily.HerhusbandwasaSir,andshewascalledalady.Asforextramaritalaffairs,inNewYorkatthetime,Ellenwassupposedtopretendnothinghadhappenedandmoveon.ButEllenhadaskedforadivorce.Ellendidnotabidebythetraditionalrules,andinordertofollowherheartandherownideas,herhusbandbetrayedher,andshemadeaseriouscomplaint.Shedidn’twantthemarriagetobeaformality,soshereturnedtoNewYork,whereshethoughtshecouldfindtruefreedom.Intheend,shedidnotreturnedtoherhusband,butspent26yearsofherlonelylifefreeinParishouse.3.2.2KindnessandTolerenceEllendidnotwanttoconformtotheoldmoralconstraints,butshehadto.Shedespisessocialethicsbutunderstood,sheisproudandindifferentbutkind-hearted,sheisdedicatedtolovebravebutinordertohelpothersandperseverancelonelylife.“Inthefaceoftheoutdatedmoralcode,inordertoprotecttheinterestsofthefamily,Ellen’ssocialegofinallyovercameherspiritualself,shechoseself-sacrifice.”[3]56ThereisanothersceneinthebookthatfurtherconfirmsEllen’skindnessandtolerance.OnedayNewlandandMaywenttogethertovisittheMingotts.NewlandwasparticularlypleasedwhenhelearnedEllenwasatthebeach,andfoundareasontogotheretoseeher.ButEllenhadlefthimashadowthathadneverturnedawayfromthelighthouse.Newlandcommentedsilently,andhisheartwasfullofsorrow.HethoughtEllenwasperhapstooabsorbedinthebeautytobeawareofhispresence.AndthenEllentoldhimthatshehaddoneitonpurpose,andthatshehadchosentoescapefromitsoasnottodisturbNewland’smarriedlife.Attheendofthestory,EllenchosetoleavehernativeNewYorkforthestrangeParis,whereshespentherlonelylife.Thecurtainofthelastsceneofthearticleleavesthereaderwithinfinitereverieandregret.Inordertogetridofhervulgarhusband,shecandefytheoldNewYorkviewofmarriageandbravelyseekfreedomandhappiness.3.3ThePersonalityofMayWellandMayisinnocent,beautiful,well-educated,accomplished,butnotindependent,richinself-sacrifice.May’sfatewassealedbyhisbirthfromtheupperechelonsofNewYork.Shewasbornintoafamousfamily,gentleandbeautiful,timidandtender,receivedtheorthodoxeducationofupperclasssocietyfromayoungage,destinedtobecomeagoodwifeandmother.Intheeyesoftraditionalpeople,Mayisbeautifulandpure,Mayisagoodgirlandagoodwife.Butinfact,sheisaproductoftraditionallife.Mayneverexpressesherowninnerthoughts,Mayhasnothoughtsofherown,andhasnoindependentjudgmentofrightandwrong.3.3.1PurityandEleganceOneoftheheroinesinthenovel,MayWelland,isatypical“angelinthehouse”.Sheisbeautiful,pureandfulloflife.Morethanonce,MrsWhartoncomparedEarthtoDiana②,thegoddessofthemooninGreekmythology:“Inherdressofwhiteandsilver,withawreathofsilverblossomsinherhair,thetallgirllookedlikeaDianajustalightfromthechase.”[1]55Mayisinnocentbutnotignorant,elegantbutnotlackingincourage.WhenNewlandaskedhertobringforwardtheweddingdate,shesaidthesethingsthatsurprisedhim:“I’vewantedtotellyouthat,whentwopeoplereallyloveeachother,Iunderstandthattheremaybesituationswhichmakeitrightthattheyshould-shouldgoagainstpublicopinion.”[1]126May'snaturewaspureandfriendly,andhernaturecouldnotallowherhappinesstorestonthesufferingofothers.Andso,evenifshesacrificedherownhappiness,shesupportedNewland'sdisobediencetoconventionandhispursuitoflove.Whendealingwithproblems,shewascalm,decisiveandmethodical.Sheevenhadalotoftraditionallymasculinequalities.Forexample,MayWellandwasverygoodatarchery.Archerywasasportthatrequiresbothphysicalstrengthandmentalquality.Asthebooksays:“Inherwhitedress,withapalegreenribbonaboutthewaistandawreathofivyonherhat,shehadthesameDiana-likealoofnessaswhenshehadenteredtheBeaufortball-roomonthenightofherengagement.Intheintervalnotathoughtseemedtohavepassedbehindhereyesorafeelingthroughherheart;andthoughherhusbandknewthatshehadthecapacityforbothhemarvelledafreshatthewayinwhichexperiencedroppedawayfromher.”[1]177TheauthorEdithWhartonhadrepeatedlyemphasized,bothbyothersandthroughtheleadingmanNewlandArcher,thatMayWellandisaperfectgoddess.However,theimageof“GoddessDiana”shechosehereisnotrandom,buthadprofoundmeaning.“BycomparingMayWellandtosuchagoddesswhoisgoodathuntinganddecisiveincharacter,theauthorundoubtedlyimpliedtothereaderthatMayWellandisanexcellent‘hunter’justlikeDiana.”[4]423.3.2CalculationandHypocrisyTherewasalsoanentirelydifferentsidetoMay.MayhadfalselytoldEllenthatshewaspregnantandsaidgoodbyeaffectionately,anditwasEllen’sdepartureandMay’struepregnancythatfinallydampenedNewland’senthusiasmandtippedthescalesofhisfeelingstowardtheethicalside.HerweaponsofinnocenceandpublicitywerethemostdamagingtoAlanandNewland.“CriticssaythatMayWellandisnotasnaiveassheappears,butratherhasaninstinctivecunning.”[4]41MayWellandherselfdidnotfeelboundbythetraditionsofapatriarchalsociety.Onthecontrary,sheisquitecontentwiththesituation.SowhenshediscoveredthatNewlandwastryingtoescapeherandtheoldsystem,sheusedtotrapNewlandandimmobilisehim.AndputcovertpressureonEllentoleaveEurope.MayWelland’slowlevelofintelligencehadnotchangedfrombeginningtoend,butthatwhenitcametomanipulatingNewlandArcher,shesuddenlybecamesuperior.“MayWellandbecamesuchapersonbecauseshewasnolongera‘person’butaninstrumentoforderinapatriarchalsociety,usedtooppressthosewhochallengedtraditionalmorals.”[4]41ChapterFourTheCausesoftheMainCharacter’sPersonalitiesTheAgeofInnocencedescribestherelationshipbetweenNewlandArcher,anaristocraticyoungman,andtwowomen,MayWellandandhercousinCountessEllenOlenska.Itreflectsthepersonalitiesofthethreemaincharactersandthecausesoftheirpersonalities,andexpoundsthattheformationofthecharactersisinfluencedbythebackgroundofthetimes,thegrowingenvironmentandpersonalfactors.4.1HistoricalBackgroundAfterWorldWarI,WhartonwroteTheAgeofInnocence.First,afterthewarandthebloodshedofWorldWarI,Americansocietychangedandbecamematerialistic,makingmoreandmoreAmericansfacethehardshipsoflife.Thethemeoflifebecomeshowtosurvive.Secondly,withthechangeoftimes,manyprevioustraditionsandcustomshavecollapsed,andthenewsocialrulesprovidealargerspaceforindividualdevelopmentandawiderworld.Americanliteratureisundergoingatransitionfromrealismtonaturalisminkeepingwiththechangeoftheoldandthenew.TheAgeofInnocencewassetinthelate1870sandearly1880s,oneofthemostgentlemanlyperiodsinAmericanhistory.Theupperclasseshadalwaysdisguisedtheireveryactionwithapretenceofsanctityandintegrity.Inaddition,theyweremostconcernedabouttheirownlivingconditions,evenifitwasthemisfortuneofothers.Anothercharacteristicofthistraditionalfeudalismwastheprevalenceoflocalism.Atthattime,peoplewereafraidandavoidedthoseindecentthings,whichalsoledtotheirfearofthenewandunknownthings.Sothosetraditionalpeopledarednottotry,darednottopursuetheirown,andbecametheslavesofthetimes.4.2GrowthEnvironmentWhartoncomparesNewYork’supperclasstoapyramid:“TheNewYorkofNewlandArcher’sdaywasasmallandslipperypyramid,inwhich,asyet,hardlyafissurehadbeenmadeorafootholdgained.”[1]41Atthetoparethosewhohaverealaristocracy.Thearistocracyhereisonlythebourgeoisupper-middleclassorgentlemanclasswitharistocratictendencies.Theyareoftenrelatedtothembybloodormarriage,hassimilareducationalandfinancialbackgrounds.InfluencedbytheNewEnglandtradition,theyadvocateddecentlife,goodconductandtaste,respectedindividualspirit,andmaintainedsocialorder.Theybelievedthatindividualbehaviorshouldconformtotheirsocialrole,andtheycarefullymaintainedandadheredtothetraditionalsocialorderofoldNewYork.SuchwastheenvironmentinwhichNewlandArcher,thehero,lives,andhismorals,ethics,manners,anddailyconductwasconstantlyconstrainedandconstrainedbyconvention.ThoughNewlandArcherhadalwaysseemedtobeabidingbyentrenchedoldNewYorktraditions,thesightofEllenagainmadetheinvisibleboundaryshiftinhistransgression,creatingatragicsceneforredefiningidentity.EllenwasbornintheupperclassesofNewYorkandraisedinEurope.Shereceivedagoodeducation.UndertheinfluenceoffreethoughtinEurope,shehaskeeninsightandpositiveandoptimisticattitude,butalsohasafreeandrebelliouscharacter.ShehadauniquepersonalityandbrokewiththeconventionsofNewYork,whichmadeheranoutlier.Themostdistinctivethingaboutheristhatshehastheabilitytothinkindependentlyandreflectonherownlife.“InfluencedbyEuropeanliberalism,Ellenwasanactivethinkerandaliberal,unswayedbythemoralprejudicesofoldNewYorksociety.”[5]92MostofthefemalecharactersinTheAgeofInnocencearetheresultofapatriarchalsociety,andtheyalsoguarditsinstitutions.Atthattime,thesocialtraditionrequiredwomentobetheappendagesofmen,andwomen’ssocialstatusisverylow.Theymustdependontheirfather,brother,husbandorson.AndsodidMay,whohadtodependonherhusbandArcherwhenshemarried.Itwasinseparablefromherupbringing.Shehadbeenbroughtupinatraditionalsociety,imbuedwiththecustomsandtraditionsofOldNewYork,raisedtothestandardsofaperfectwifeandmother,a“wonderfulcommodity”manufacturedbytheleisureclass,“thatterrifyingproductofthesocialsysteman.”[1]36Shefollowedallthetraditionsandvaluesoftheupperclasstotheletter,andwastheidealfemaleimageofthepatriarchalsociety.Shewasdestinedtobetheornamentofapatriarchalsocietyandtheappendageofmen.EllenwasacounterpointtoMay,thenove’smostfeministnewwoman,whorefusedtobedefinedasanappendageofmen.4.3PersonalFactorsNewlandArcherwasalawyerofgoodfamily,anddutifullycarriedoutthedutiesofamemberofNewYorksociety.Atthattime,althoughNewYorkwasamoderncity,therulesofthepatriarchalsocietyweredifficulttoshake,andthetraditionalpedanticideasstillexisted.Asavestedinterestatthetopofthepyramid,Newlandwasusedtothinkingintermsofmen.Hisbetrothed,MayWelland,waswell-bred,self-disciplined,pure,andallthequalitiesthatfitthemalefantasyofawomaninapatriarchalsociety.Newland,therefore,wasmorethanhappytotakeasuitablewife.Ellen’sideaofdivorcebroketraditionalcustoms,traditionalpatriarchalsocietiesusedtoimprisonwomeninaprisonofmoralityandinnocenceandletmenrule.Inthatpatriarchalsociety,womendidnothavetherighttodivorceandcontroltheirowndestiny.However,Ellen,withrebelliousspirit,wasnotafraidoftheauthorityofthemalepatriarchy,didnotlustafterthepowerandwealthoftheEarl’shusband,andresolutelydecidedtodivorcethedissolutivehusbandandpursuefreedomandequality.Mayistheproductoftraditionaltheoryandtraditionalsociety.Sheisbeautifulandfriendly.Shecansaytherightthingattherightmoment.Shehadallthegoodvirtuesthatsocietyexpectedofawomanatthattime,andsheembodiedthistraditionalvirtueineveryaspectofherlife.Shecouldliveconscientiouslybyeveryrulethatsocietyrequired.Herhabitsandthoughtsshowherfamiliaritywithsocialconventions.Sheneverhadanyrealideasofherown,andherattitudetowardsthingswasinlinewiththatofsociety.However,Maywassatisfiedwithherlifesituation,andsheoftenusedtraditionalmethodstojudgewhetherheractionsandthoughtsareright.Maywasaproductofpatriarchalsociety,andforthisshewaspraisedbythehighsocietyoftheday.ChapterFiveTheEnlightenmentsoftheMainCharacterstoModernLifeThenovelalsogivesenlightenmentstomodernpeople,thatis,nomatterwhatagepeoplearein,theyshouldhavethecouragetopursuefreedomandindependence,findtheirownvalue,anddonotsinkintotheslavesofthetimes.Atthesametime,peopleshouldbesincere,kindandtoleranttowardsothers.5.1HavigtheCouragetoBreakConventionsandPursueFreedomNewlandArcher,unabletocourageouslypursuehistruelove,andpinninghishopesonAlan,hadtoliveconservativelyintheage.ThoughArcherhadthedesirableworldlyhappinessofaperfectfamilylifeandarespectablesocialposition.Justlivinglikeazombie,beingagoodhusband,agoodfather,agoodcitizen,notpursuingwhathereallywanted.AsforNewland’scharacter,heiscowardlyandcontradictory,anddarenotchallengethepedantictradition,sohecanonlylivehislifesilently.TheinspirationofNewland’scharactertomodernpeopleisthatpeopleshouldhavethecouragetopursuethelifetheywant,don’thesitateanddon’tbeconfusedbysomesuperficiallifephenomena.PeopleappreciateEllen’spersonalitycharm.Sheisindependent,free,kindanddoesnotlosehisnature.Sheknowswhatshewantsanddoesnotfollowthecrowd.Peoplecherishfreedominmodernsociety,butitdoesnotmeanthatmanypeoplecanpursuefreedom.Peoplealwayshavetoomanyconcernsanddarenotpursueitboldly,andthencomplainabouttheirlifeisnotsatisfactory.Infact,itistheirownreasonsanddarenotpursuethemselves.AsforMay,inherera,marriagewasheronlydestination.AlthoughshefoundthatNewlandhadanaffairwithhercousin,shestillkeptherloveandherfamilybysomemeansandwiththehelpofthetimes.ShelivedoutherlifeintheupperechelonofNewYorkwithNewland.Therewasnothingwrongwithher.Shejustwantedtokeepherfamilyandliveasafelifeatthattime.Formodernpeople,theycan’tsticktotherules,theyshoulddaretopursuetruelove.5.2TreatingOtherswithSincerity,KindnessandToleranceInorder