Edith Wharton Biography
Edith Wharton became the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for literature for her novel The Age of Innocence (1921). Although wealthy and female, she was also one of the few American civilians who traveled to the front lines in France during World War I. She wrote a series of articles about that experience, and in 1916 was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. She remained in France until her death in 1937, although she did return to the United States on one occasion to get an honorary doctorate degree from Yale. Despite the time she spent away from the United States, Edith Wharton is celebrated for her novels that perfectly captured (and gently criticized) the upper class in America.
Facts and Trivia
- “Keeping up with the Joneses” is a phrase coined about Edith Wharton’s family. She was born Edith Newbold Jones, and her privileged lifestyle inspired many of her finest works.
- Wharton had many influential ancestors, including Ebenezer Stevens, who participated in the Boston Tea Party.
- Wharton once said this about the critical response to her writing: “After all, one knows one’s weak points so well that it’s rather bewildering to have the critics overlook them and invent others.”
- Wharton was divorced from her husband in 1913, but rather than view a divorce as scandalous she saw it as a “diploma of virtue.”
- Wharton was working on a novel, The Buccaneers, at the time of her death. The unfinished novel was published in 1938, and a version completed by author Marion Mainwaring was published in 1993.
Biography
Edith Wharton remains a pivotal figure in the literary canon, celebrated for her incisive exploration of the societal shifts and personal struggles within New York's elite circles. Her novels frequently spotlight the discord between entrenched social hierarchies and the burgeoning forces of change, often through the lens of intricate characters navigating these turbulent waters. From her early life of privilege to her acclaimed literary career, Wharton crafted a legacy that continues to resonate with readers and scholars alike.
Early Life and Formation
Born into the upper echelons of "old" New York society, Edith Newbold Jones was the daughter of George Frederic and Lucretia Stevens Rhinelender Jones. Her upbringing was steeped in the traditions of an aristocratic lifestyle that prized leisure, culture, and social propriety over political or commercial pursuits. Educated largely through private tutors and governesses, Edith's formative years were marked by extensive travels abroad with her family.
Edith's reading options were deliberately curated by her parents, who frowned upon contemporary literature, steering her toward the classics lining her father's bookshelves. Despite her cultural education, the expectations for Edith were firmly rooted in societal norms—where sophistication, decorum, and adherence to social rituals reigned supreme.
In 1885, Edith married Edward Wharton, an amiable but intellectually unremarkable man, and they led a comfortable life without financial woes or children. Yet, Wharton felt a void within the confines of her prescribed social duties, prompting her to channel her intellectual energy into writing—an endeavor that drew disapproval from her peers and embarrassment from her husband.
Personal Struggles and Literary Evolution
While Wharton navigated the traditional expectations of her marriage, she cultivated a friendship with Henry James, who became both a literary mentor and an emotional confidant. Through James's encouragement, Wharton found solace in writing, detailing her profound sense of "moral solitude" in her diaries. Her literary pursuits became a lifeline, allowing her to craft alternative realms through her narratives.
Wharton's marriage endured for nearly three decades, likely sustained by the conservative values of her social class. However, her eventual divorce in 1913, coupled with other personal upheavals, invigorated her writing, leading to some of her most celebrated works. Her narratives often scrutinized the ways social class constrained women's identities, reflecting her own disillusionment with the superficiality of societal conventions.
Dominant Themes and Societal Critique
Wharton's literary focus frequently settled on the disintegration of New York's aristocracy. Her works contrasted the entrenched "old" New York elite with the brash nouveau riche of the Gilded Age, whose ethos was grounded entirely in wealth. This societal friction became a fertile ground for Wharton's exploration of character and identity.
Her early literary ventures included poetry and stories heavily influenced by her contemporary, Henry James. However, it was with the novel The House of Mirth (1905) that Wharton firmly established her voice, articulating the tensions between traditional society and its "invaders." The novel's protagonist, Lily Bart, embodies the struggle between personal aspirations and the rigid societal expectations that ultimately lead to her demise.
Major Works and Literary Legacy
Wharton's literary acclaim was solidified with the publication of Ethan Frome (1911), a novella that departed from her usual social milieu to portray the stark existence of a New England farming community. Despite the change in setting, familiar themes of personal entrapment and societal pressures persist, underscored by symbolic landscapes that mirror the protagonist's inner desolation.
Other significant works, such as The Custom of the Country (1913), further examined the social upheaval of New York's elite through the lens of a cunning and predatory newcomer, Undine Spragg. Unlike earlier heroines who succumb to societal pressures, Undine navigates her world with a...
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ruthless pragmatism that underscores the moral vacuum left by the social changes Wharton observed.
In The Age of Innocence (1920), Wharton nostalgically revisited the genteel world of her youth, earning her the Pulitzer Prize. The novel is a poignant exploration of the constraints imposed by societal norms and the personal sacrifices required to uphold them.
Later Years and Enduring Influence
While Wharton's later works struggled to capture the same critical acclaim, her earlier novels remain cornerstones of American literature. Her depictions of "old" New York are not only rich in detail and authenticity but also serve as a social commentary on the era's moral complexities.
Wharton's successes are particularly noteworthy given the societal constraints she navigated as both a woman and a writer. Her ability to transmute personal and social strife into compelling narratives has cemented her status as a timeless chronicler of manners and mores.
Conclusion
Edith Wharton's extensive body of work provides an incisive lens through which to view the intricate dance of tradition and change within American society. Her novels, rich with detail and layered with meaning, offer valuable insights into the cultural dynamics of her time. As a figure who transcended the limitations imposed by her gender and social class, Wharton's legacy continues to inspire and challenge successive generations of readers and writers alike.
