Her manner to enjoy music like she used to do in Europe is still present even though Ellen already moves to New York. It shows that Ellen wants to feel
comfortable living and doing what she likes in New York. Besides having a good sense of music, Ellen is also clever at arranging
flowers and a drawing room. It is proven by Mr. van Der Luyden’s direct comment on how he is astonished by Ellen’s talent of art.
She has a real gift for arranging flowers. I had sent her a few carnations from Skuytercliff, and I was astonished. Instead of massing them in big
bunches as our head-gardener does, she had scattered them about loosely, here and there . . . I cant say how. The Duke had told me: he said: `Go and
see how cleverly shes arranged her drawing-room. And she has Wharton 73.
Mr. Van der Luyden is told by The Duke that Ellen is also excellent in decorating a drawing room. He desires to see it by himself. Furthermore he admires the way
Ellen decorates his garden. She is talented in arranging flowers that no one can. It makes her as an admirable woman in New York. Some New York gentlemen
adore Ellen because of her excellent artistic sense. One of the gentlemen is Dr. Carver who states that poetry and art are the breath of Ellen’s life. From the
quotations above, it can be concluded that Ellen is one of an artistic woman.
5. Eccentric
Ellen has indulgence eccentricity manners especially in the way she gets dressed. It is obviously inherited by her aunt, named Medora Manson who takes
in charge over Ellen since her both parents die. In the novel, it is described that Medora is repeatedly widowed. She used to leave her husband after a few months
of matrimony Wharton 47. Medora is a unique woman. She is free to do what
she wants. As a matter of fact, she raises Ellen in the same way she undergoes her life.
Every one was disposed to be kind to little Ellen Mingott, though her dusky red cheeks and tight curls gave her an air of gaiety that seemed
unsuitable in a child who should still have been in black for her parents. It was one of the misguided Medoras many peculiarities to flout the
unalterable rules that regulated American mourning, and when she stepped from the steamer her family were scandalised to see that the crape veil she
wore for her own brother was seven inches shorter than those of her sisters-in-law, while little Ellen was in crimson merino and amber beads,
like a gipsy foundling Wharton 47.
The above quotation shows how eccentric Medora dresses little Ellen up when there is a mourning moment right after the loss of Ellen’s parents. Hence, the
society blames Medora over her misguidance towards Ellen. Medora seems not to care about such things since she is a free woman. This influences Ellen’s manners
and habits so she becomes an eccentric woman as she is raised by Medora. The proof is evidently found from Mrs. Archer’s conversation with Mr. Jackson.
Mrs. Archer smiled at this confirmation of her inference. Poor Ellen, she simply remarked; adding compassionately: We must always bear in mind
what an eccentric bringing-up Medora Manson gave her. What can you expect of a girl who was allowed to wear black satin at her coming-out
ball Wharton 31?
It is said that Ellen is eccentric because the way she gets dressed is very unusual for a lady to show up at ball. They even judge her as a “Poor Ellen” because of
her eccentricity. Archer’s
thought also
reveals Ellen’s eccentricity when attending the van der Luyden’s dinner. Archer assumes that Ellen’s eccentricity gives a different
idea of typical Old New York women. These things passed through Newland Archers mind a week later as he
watched the Countess Olenska enter the van der Luyden drawing-room on the evening of the momentous dinner. The occasion was a solemn one, and
he wondered a little nervously how she would carry it off. She came rather late, one hand still ungloved, and fastening a bracelet about her wrist; yet
she entered without any appearance of haste or embarrassment the drawing-room in which New Yorks most chosen company was somewhat
awfully assembled Wharton 48.
Ellen seems unwell-prepared for a luxurious evening dinner. It is seen from the way she maintains her personal embellishments while the other women already
stand with their company. From the way Ellen gets dressed and perceives the custom of Old New York, it can be drawn a conclusion that she has an eccentric
nature.
B. The Description of the Patriarchal Society
