who still hold onto a long engagement before getting married are the slave of such absurd superstitions. The example of that superstition can be seen from May’s
way of thinking that a marriage in such haste leads to a bad sign Wharton 140. Another one of Ellen’s open-minded characteristics is revealed through
her speech. This can be seen when she explicitly talks about woman’s sexual needs with Archer, her future cousin. She assumes that women in New York act
innocently and passively that they apparently never want to feel sexual needs. They consider that being pleased sexually is a blessing from God.
You mean--Im so evidently helpless and defenceless? What a poor thing you must all think me But women here seem not--seem never to feel the
need: any more than the blessed in heaven. Wharton 109 Ellen is open to state her idea about women and sex; on the contrary Archer
pretends not to understand by asking what sort of a need Ellen is talking about Wharton 109. By considering her speech and manners it can be said that Ellen is
open-minded.
2. Brave
Ellen is very unconventional. She spends most of her past life living in different places outside America. That is why she is quite different from other
women in Old New York society Wharton 38. She is brave and straightforward in saying her opinion.
She said it in the simplest manner, as if she had said: Hes fond of wild- flowers; and after a moment she added candidly: I think hes the dullest
man I ever met. This pleased her companion so much that he forgot the slight shock her
previous remark had caused him. It was undeniably exciting to meet a lady who found the van der Luydens Duke dull, and dared to utter the opinion
Wharton 51.
In the novel, Ellen bravely says that the van der Luyden is the dullest man she ever meets. No doubt, van der Luyden is an honored man in Old New York that
everybody always gives enormous respect to him. It is seen from Archer’s thought that no one will dare to give horrific opinion about van der Luyden. However,
Archer notices Ellen’s straightforward opinion is a rare thing that ladies in Old New York will ever consider to do.
Archer’s reaction towards Ellen also proves that she is a brave woman in every situation. Archer is surprised when he knows that Ellen stays at the Parker
House for two days without bringing her servant, named Nastasia. Nastasia; but isnt she with you?
No; Im alone. For two days it was not worth while to bring her. Youre alone--at the Parker House?
She looked at him with a flash of her old malice. Does it strike you as dangerous?
No; not dangerous— But unconventional? I see; I suppose it is. She considered a moment
Wharton 193.
What Ellen does is considered as a dangerous action. However, Ellen fearlessly does not state it as something dangerous but unconventional. Women are seen as
weak creatures in Old New York. Therefore, they are not supposed to go out alone without any escorts especially in an outlandish place like the Parker House where
Ellen stays Wharton 192. From the above proof, it can be concluded that Ellen is brave woman who dares to take any risks while living in New York.
3. Independent
