that breaking social customs of the Old New York is one of Ellen’s rebellious ways against patriarchal society.
3. Asking for a Divorce
Boyer 45 says that in America in the nineteenth century, divorce rarely happened and it was unthinkable. A divorced woman was regarded as a more
disgraceful woman than a prostitute. This shows that society had power in controlling the members’ private lives including their marriage.
In the novel, it is also revealed that divorce does not occur to people who have an important role in the society. This leads to a social agreement to reject
any divorce. Although the law has permitted to happen, the society cannot. This shows that people conform to the social convention more than they do to the law
Wharton 93. In this case, Ellen who comes from a respectable family returns to New
York to get her freedom. She sues for a divorce because her marriage has ended in disaster Wharton 48. People then put Ellen into a label as “poor Ellen” because
rumor is spread that Ellen’s husband, Count Olenski, treats her like a prisoner. But still people talk about it and laugh at her, since ladies and gentlemen in this
society enjoy gossiping sensational issues. There are rumours, began Mr. Jackson, glancing at Janey.
Oh, I know: the secretary, the young man took him up. Nonsense, mother; Janeys grown-up. They say, dont they, he went on, that the
secretary helped her to get away from her brute of a husband, who kept her practically a prisoner? Well, what if he did? I hope there isnt a man
among us who wouldnt have done the same in such a case Wharton 32.
Archer describes it as a “beastly talk” that Ellen gains from her divorce decision Wharton 91. Still, Ellen seems not to care about such things. She just wants to
be free and wipe out all the past Wharton 91. Furthermore, Ellen’s decision to ask for divorce is reasonable since her
marriage life is not that happy as it seems. It is true that Ellen marries a brute man who imprisons her in Europe. She cannot stand with her husband anymore. It is
said that Count Olenski, Ellen’s husband, treats her inadequately. Archer had left her with the conviction that Count Olenskis accusation
was not unfounded. The mysterious person who figured in his wifes past as the secretary had probably not been unrewarded for his share in her
escape. The conditions from which she had fled were intolerable, past speaking of, past believing: she was young, she was frightened, she was
desperate--what more natural than that she should be grateful to her rescuer? The pity was that her gratitude put her, in the laws eyes and the
worlds, on a par with her abominable husband. Wharton 97
All above prove that the society regards women as the subordinate creatures. What Count Olenski has done to Ellen is intolerable. Ellen has been
suffering for a long time that her husband treats her like “a secretary” rather than a wife. He has an entire legal right to Ellen and can use legal means to constrain her
liberty. In the Old New York, women are not supposed to ask divorce over her husband no matter what. In that era, women had no right to make a decision.
Authority, decisiveness, and control over any emotion are in men’ hands Johnson 7. Therefore, the society judges Ellen as violating the law.
“Who had the right to make her life over if she hadnt? Im sick of the hypocrisy that would bury alive a woman of her age if her husband prefers
to live with harlots. He stopped and turned away angrily to light his cigar Wharton 33.
Her husband has the right over Ellen like the property of a house. Ellen
has no freedom because she has to devote her entire life for her husband who
actually prefers to spend his days with a prostitute. Here, Archer believes that women like Ellen deserve to be free and happy. She has the same right as men’s,
that is, to be free to make their decision of their own lives. “Women ought to be free – as we are Wharton 33”.
Meanwhile, asking for divorce to get her freedom is Ellen’s rebellion against the society and they judge her as a “scandalous” woman. This is
represented by what Mr. Letterblair says to Archer. Mr. Archer, I dont understand you. Do you want to marry into a family with a scandalous divorce-
suit hanging over it? Wharton 83. This proves that Ellen’s decision to ask for a divorce influences her family reputation in the society. It also portrays that Ellen’s
family is judged as a “scandalous family” because one of the family members has caused a divorce nuisance.
Moreover, Ellen’s family blames her because of her foolish decision to ask for a divorce. In the novel, Mrs. Welland and May who are the examples of ideal
women in the Old New York, are raving at Ellen’s divorce. But European society is not given to divorce: Countess Olenska thought she would be conforming to
American ideas in asking for her freedom Wharton 121. Ellen is raised in Europe. Therefore, her manners and ways of thinking are literally Europeanized.
It leads to the argument that Ellen comes to New York just to get an allowance for her divorce since it is impossible to have divorce in Europe. Furthermore, the
Welland family still believes that nothing is worse than a scandalous divorce whatever cruelty Ellen may have suffered from her husband.
As a result, they command Archer to make Ellen give up her. It is intentionally done to save her family reputation from disgrace. They ask Archer
to persuade Ellen to reconsider her decision. They think that it is only Archer who can carry out their demand.
But we do most thoroughly appreciate your persuading Ellen to give up the idea. Her grandmother and her uncle Lovell could do nothing with her;
both of them have written that her changing her mind was entirely due to your influence--in fact she said so to her grandmother. She has an
unbounded admiration for you Wharton 120.
However, it becomes a dilemma for Archer. He wishes Ellen were free from her husband but he also does not want Ellen as Beaufort’s mistress to blame. For this
reason, Archer tries to explain Ellen what inconvenience she will receive if she keeps asking for a divorce Wharton 120.
New York society is a very small world compared with the one youve lived in. And its ruled, in spite of appearances, by a few people with--
well, rather old fashioned ideas. Our ideas about marriage and divorce are particularly old-fashioned. Our
legislation favours divorce--our social customs dont.
But my freedom--is that nothing? Well, then: is it worth while to risk what may be infinitely disagreeable
and painful? Think of the newspapers--their vileness Its all stupid and narrow and unjust--but one cant make over society.
The Mingotts, the Wellands, the van der Luydens, all your friends and relations: if I didnt show you honestly how they judge such questions, it
wouldnt be fair of me, would it? Very well; I will do what you wish, she said abruptly Wharton 93-94.
Ellen admits her desire to give up her divorce because of Archer’s advice. Reluctantly, Ellen agrees with Archer. It is because she wants to be independent
and willingly to be free, but then she also wants to be the same as everyone else in the society. She shouts to Archer, “If you knew how I hate to be different
Wharton 88” She does not want to be different, more abandoned, and alienated.
Ellen does not want to feel alone again. Besides, if she keeps her decision to have a divorce, she will be free, but her family’s name stained.
It is true that in Victorian Era women stayed away from divorce because of the stigma attached to divorced woman was considered a taboo thing Abbot
45. Ellen gives up divorce due to the sake of her family honor, especially due to May’s family is going to be Archer’s. It is also made in order to avoid the stigma
of a family with scandal. You, you, YOU she cried, her lip trembling like a childs on the verge
of tears. Isnt it you who made me give up divorcing--give it up because you showed me how selfish and wicked it was, how one must sacrifice
ones self to preserve the dignity of marriage . . . and to spare ones family the publicity, the scandal? And because my family was going to be your
family—for Mays sake and for yours—I did what you told me, what you proved to me that I ought to do. Ah, she broke out with a sudden laugh,
Ive made no secret of having done it for you Wharton 142
In fact, Archer’s effort to convince Ellen to give up divorcing does not seem to work well. However it only results Ellen’s divorce decision suspended. Archer
does give sympathy towards Ellen’s controversial problem. They become friends who share their true feelings, hopes, and awareness of themselves among social
expectance. They even make no secrets and eventually fall in love. It becomes a love affair between the two. When Ellen admits her feeling to Archer, she then
realizes that she is not a divorced woman. She is not free and still somebody’s wife. It makes her realize that she is supposed to give up divorce for the sake of
Archer and May’s honor. Subsequently Ellen seems to alienate herself from the society by neither showing herself in New York nor spending days in her house.
Furthermore, she prefers to stay at the Blenkers’Wharton 145”.
After Ellen’s alienation, the Welland family assumes that Ellen never cares for society. They think that Ellen is ignoring social norms. But they do not
help her return back to her husband. Additionally, society judges her as a “poor Ellen” because she is no longer taken account of the good graces of her family.
She has made a fatal mistake in not returning to Count Olenski as well overlooking the opportunities and privileges to defend her marriage life Wharton
219-220. Abbot clarifies that in America in nineteenth century, married women
were supposed to live with their husbands as family protectors and family representatives. It was apparently a constraint of marriage that imposed on
freedom for women in patriarchal society 13. In the novel, Ellen’s status is still a married woman but she chooses to live not under her husband’s roof. Here, by
living independently she shows her artistic sense by decorating her house furniture and flowers freely and arranging evening conventions with her friends at
her own house. In addition, the New York gentlemen seem to favor Ellen as their great favorite lady Wharton 220. Ellen dares to break the rule. Therefore, it
makes her not only be judged as a “poor Ellen”, but also as a “bad” woman. As time passes by, Ellen starts getting tired with the “society”. Ellen used
to think New York is very kind and hospitable seen from the way of people welcoming her back. However, she begins to realize that she is too “different” to
live among those people. Ellen is always judged as an unconventional woman because of her different ways of thinking, manners, and appearances from old
New York people. Finally, Ellen comes to a decision to settle down in Washington and make a home there for poor Medora and her Wharton 201. Yet,
Ellen’s rebellion against patriarchal society keeps continuing by not returning to her husband in Europe.
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
This chapter consists of two parts, the conclusions of the analysis of the previous chapter and the suggestions for the next researchers and for the teaching
implementation through this novel on the subject of Public Speaking I.
A. Conclusions
Based on the preceding chapter, it can be drawn a conclusion that Ellen is an open-minded person. She has broad views and ideas about many things that
some New York people consider it as taboo topics such as women sexual needs and long engagement. This is because she is a brave person. She dares to utter
opinions straightforwardly while the society will regard as an unconventional behavior. Ellen’s courage is also seen when she fearlessly takes risk of going out
alone in the middle of the night without any escorts. This is in accordance with her independent nature as well as to state her desire to live by herself in her New
York residence. By occupying her own house, she begins to explore her sense of art by skillfully decorating her living room. Indeed, she is an artistic person who
also likes to spare her time enjoying arts and amusements. However, she sometimes shows up in every amusement with her indulgence eccentricity that
makes her appear unusual among Old New York Society. Moreover, this society still embraces the concept of patriarchal family.
There are several evidences analyzed according to four characteristics of patriarchal society that can be drawn from the novel. The male domination is seen
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