If you knew how I like it for just THAT-- the straight-up-and-downness, and the big honest labels on everything
The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend Wharton 61
She is asked not to be seen when driving about the streets with Beaufort. Mrs. Welland requires one condition to Ellen that their family will never hear anything
unpleasant about her Wharton 61. However, Ellen seems to refuse such society’s demand. This is her rebellion against the society that sets woman as the disgrace
carrier.
2. Breaking Social Customs of Old New York
According to Abbot 14, American women in nineteenth century adopted English customs that promoted standard of feminine behaviors such as idleness,
passivity, and gentility. They were also asked to give innocent impression in order to attract American gentlemen Swisher 184.
Ellen is adopted by her aunt named Medora Manson. She brings Ellen to Europe when she is a little girl. That is why Medora raises her in a different way
from other women in New York. Ellen is more eccentric and brave to do whatever she pleases. She is more assertive in expressing herself. She often eventually
breaks social customs of Old New York that makes her appear very unusual in front of the society.
The way she gets dressed is the most apparent thing that holds opposing views from the New York society. Ellen always has indulgence eccentricities by
the way she appears in public and leads her to be an object of gossiping in New York society.
It was usual for ladies who received in the evenings to wear what were called simple dinner dresses: a close-fitting armour of whale-boned silk,
slightly open in the neck, with lace ruffles filling in the crack and tight sleeves with a flounce uncovering just enough wrist to show an Etruscan
gold bracelet or a velvet band. But Madame Olenska, heedless of tradition, was attired in a long robe of red velvet bordered about the chin and down
the front with glossy black fur Wharton 85.
The above quotation proves that Ellen ignores the society’s custom of evening dressing by wearing a long dressing gown about the chin combined with black fur
while the other women are dressed in silky gown somewhat plainly in the neck decorated with gold bracelet or a velvet band for the wrist. The fur worn by Ellen
shows she is provocative against the tradition. It is really unusual in Old New York. Consequently, people enjoy gossiping about Ellen’s style. They are always
questioning her every appearance. At the same time she was simpler in manner than most of the ladies
present, and many people as he heard afterward from Janey were disappointed that her appearance was not more “stylish” –for stylishness
was what New York most valued Wharton 49.
Here, Ellen shows different images of what society views and expects. Another proof of Ellen’s neglectful of social custom is found in the way she treats her
maid named Anastasia. Here—throw this into the dustbin and then, as Nastasia stared
protestingly: But no--its not the fault of the poor flowers. Tell the boy to carry them to the house three doors away, the house of Mr. Winsett, the
dark gentleman who dined here. His wife is ill--they may give her pleasure . . . The boy is out, you say? Then, my dear one, run yourself; here, put my
cloak over you and fly. I want the thing out of the house immediately And, as you live, dont say
they come from me Wharton 137 In the Old New York society, it is unusual custom for a lady to address her
parlor-maid as “my dear one”. Ellen also puts the opera-cloak on her maid then sends her out on a duty. At this point, her maid is more treated like a companion.
It shows that Ellen’s unconventional manner explains to the society that it does not always deal with disgracing family’s name.
Historically, women were supposed to show an innocent impression in patriarchal society Swisher 184. However, Ellen’s habit in life does not reflect
this kind of attitude. She is an artistic woman. Thus, she is used to all kinds of things like luxury, amusements, and excitements that Old New York cannot
provide. This influences her habit which is more outlandish compared to other New York ladies. She loves enjoying a cigarette when having conversation with
her companions Wharton 138. Obviously this kind of habit is brought from Europe when people are more moderate.
Next, when attending the van der Luydens’s dinner, Ellen disregards the rule that a lady in New York drawing-rooms does not arise from her seat in order
to find the company. However, she does so. It was not the custom in New York drawing-rooms for a lady to get up and
walk away from one gentleman in order to seek the company of another. Etiquette required that she should wait, immovable as an idol, while the
men who wished to converse with her succeeded each other at her side. But the Countess was apparently unaware of having broken any rule; she
sat at perfect ease in a corner of the sofa beside Archer, and looked at him with the kindest eyes Wharton 51.
The Old New York society does not accept that sort of manner. Ellen is supposed to wait her company instead of coming to him, but she gets up looking for a
company. Accordingly, women in this era should have feminine behaviors of idleness Abbot 14. However, Ellen seems to be unaware about it. Consequently,
her misbehavior makes her more secluded from the society because she is too different to live among them. By seeing several above proofs, it can be concluded
that breaking social customs of the Old New York is one of Ellen’s rebellious ways against patriarchal society.
3. Asking for a Divorce
