1. Male Dominance
Men generally dominate significant positions of political, economic, legal, religious, educational, military, and domestic fields in the society as well as in the
family Johnson 5. It can be concluded that men are superior to women in patriarchal society. Kane states that in the nineteenth century, a husband in family
acquired, at the moment of marriage, all the personal property of his wife, such as money, houses, and any goods she had. A husband also exercised a religious
function such as praying grace at meals. Furthermore, he was responsible for making every decision in the family 61-63. Referring to this statement, the male
dominance of the society in the novel is analyzed. In the novel, the patriarchal concept in Ellen’s society is portrayed by the
domination of men in the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. van der Luyden. They are considered as an elite family who holds a recognized status in New York
society. It is also said that Mr. and Mrs. van der Luyden are categorized as having a true aristocratic origin which belongs to the upper class. Therefore, as an
honorable family, they show to the society that their family is always seemingly to maintain an essential principle of society. Moreover, it is a society where a
husband takes over his wife in the whole aspect of family life. Mrs. van der Luyden’s attitude proves that she is a typical wife of patriarchal society when
Mrs. Newland and Archer whose family is going to marry Ellen’s family visit van der Luyden family to ask for help in solving the problem of Ellen’s divorce
decision. Mrs. van der Luydens attitude said neither yes nor no, but always
appeared to incline to clemency till her thin lips, wavering into the shadow of a smile, made the almost invariable reply: I shall first have to talk this
over with my husband.….. I think, she said, I should like Henry to hear what you have told me. Wharton 41-42
This shows that Mrs. van der Luyden is very submissive to her husband since she does not give any comments on Ellen’s decision to get a divorce
problem. Moreover, she chooses to have a discussion first with her husband. She thinks that her own idea is not necessarily important; on the other hand, whatever
her husband says will be the best answer to solve the problem. She always agrees to anything her husband wants for he is the leader of the family. By conforming to
her husband Mrs. van der Luyden considers herself as a good wife. It is seen that as a good wife, she should have a standard of feminine behaviors which promote
idleness, passivity, and gentility. This is also described in the novel that Mr. van der Luyden comes from a
powerful and prestigious family that has a good reputation in the New York society. Therefore, all people esteem and admire him. Because of this Mrs. van
der Luyden, as his wife, also shows her deep respect to her husband. A footman appeared, to whom she gravely added: If Mr. van der Luyden
has finished reading the newspaper, please ask him to be kind enough to come. She said reading the newspaper in the tone in which a Ministers
wife might have said: Presiding at a Cabinet meeting—not from any arrogance of mind, but because the habit of a life-time, and the attitude of
her friends and relations, had led her to consider Mr. van der Luydens least gesture as having an almost sacerdotal importance Wharton 42.
The quotation above shows another proof that Mrs. van der Luyden treats her husband as if he is the president. She considers her husband as an important
person with authority even in the family itself. It shows Mr. van der Luyden’s superiority over her. This clearly describes that the society in the novel is male
dominated.
2. Male Identification
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