The Age Of Innocence By Edith Wharton: Literary Analysis

The 1920s was filled with a lot of progression among society. This progression did not leave the women of the 1920s out. Women became more sexually liberated, more women began to work, and women were also given the right to vote. The 1920s are one of the most stereotyped decades in America. Not only were the 1920s stereotyped as a whole, but women we hugely stereotyped.

It is important to note the theatre's location in California, this proves that vaudeville was truly an important part of American popular culture instead of being confined to a specific region. The poster proves that vaudeville had transformed the American entertainment industry from coast to coast. Originating in New York and other eastern cities, its popularity and success had travelled all throughout the United States and in the process, it served as a unifying tool which was important given the political, economic and ideological divisions that followed the Civil War and continued into the twentieth century. In addition to its geographical significance, the image promotes the important elements of vaudeville and the significance of a specific show. By advertising a 15 act show the image illustrates that variety of entertainers will be present and that it will be an in-depth show (Vaudeville Frolic).

Throughout the centuries, the vogue for young women had constantly evolved and is an indicator of social status. Fitzgerald wrote “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” to show the 1920s trends and how important they were to young women. This time period depicts a distinctive change in the fashion icons of young women that is greatly scrutinized by adults. He wants to portray the distinctive change from the proper, reserved girl, like in Little Women, to the flapper. The widely unaccepted trends of the flapper illustrate the social climb all young women were willing to take in order to be accepted by their peers.

“Singly they betrayed their inferiority; but grouped together they represented ‘New York,’ and the habit of masculine solidarity made him accept their doctrine on all issues called moral. He instinctively felt that in this respect it would be troublesome —and also rather bad form —to strike out for himself,”(page 5, The Age of Innocence) Edith Wharton in the Age of Innocence. One of the most heavily betrayed theme in The Age of Innocence is the aristocratic lifestyle of old New York. She also incorporates irony throughout her piece.

The 1920s created more insight. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in 1925, inspired by the 1920s and modernism. This time period really stressed the idea of the American Dream, which inspired so many new works of art. The Great Gatsby was based solely on the American Dream and how so many people do whatever possible to try and reach it. Plus, others like Langston Hughes and Louise Armstrong flourished during the 1920s.

Scholars from all over the Western world have analyzed and discussed the impact of democracy has had for the citizens of the United States, for over 200 years. Each new period throughout American history, has brought a new concept of being an individual in a democratic society. One flaw scholars from the late nineteenth century saw with democracy was that the majority ruled and if an individual part of the minority their voices were not heard, even if the minority was just and the majority unjust. Thus the democracy most Americans are proud to have is primarily individualistic and can be deemed corrupt because of the focus of majority rule, which might not be the wisest decision. Alexis de Tocqueville was a French writer who wrote several essays on his visit to the United States.

Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, reflects the jaded attitudes of the lost generation and the novel proves to be a criticism of America’s aristocracy and the excess of lavish living and lack of morality that overcame people during the 1920s. The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, a Midwestern guy who represents the lost generations aversion to materialism and decadence, and Carraway tells the story of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby was one of the top socialites in New York and would throw huge extravagant parties in his huge mansion; he represented the American Dream, coming from humble beginnings Gatsby serves in the Great War and worked his way into wealth so he can live a better life and impress the love of his life, Daisy. The story is filled with adultery, excess drinking during the time of Prohibition, and greed. The frivolous and unrestrained living that the majority of the characters participated in reflected sentiments about the Lost Generation’s lost identity and inability to find a purpose in life or to have goals to strive towards; morality was cast aside and self-indulgence was most important during this time.

Rebellion in The Handmaid’s Tale Imagine not being able to do what you used to do because some actions are forbidden in this new society. In the Handmaid's Tale, Gilead is a dystopian society where people are limited to certain actions. Throughout the story, Offred’s actions are rebellious because she has broken so many rules. Atwood demonstrates that restricted expression leads to rebellion by showing the Commanders and Offred’s affair developing throughout time and the actions of both characters.

Harper Lee's famous work, TO KILL A MOCKINBIRD, is a beautiful story in the eyes of many beholders. Though the writer herself considers her novel to be a simple love story, it was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and is regarded by many as a masterpiece of American literature. Most supporters probably enjoy this book because of the author's way of expressing her view on the motives of human behavior. In her work, Harper Lee portrays several instances in which one who is innocent is harmed at the hand of another's self-interest. She refers to this injustice in the title of her novel, likening it to "the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children" (Lee, 323).

Carver’s long time editor, Gordon Lish, had severely altered many of Carver’s early pieces. It is shown the Lish not only changed characters names and altered endings, he also cut over 75% of two of Carver’s short stories(Encyclopedia Britannica). As Carver is a beloved writer of the 20th century this was a shocking reveal, however looking at his original, unedited pieces the terseness and his view towards the dismal life of someone in the middle class remains unchanged. There is however a variation of opinion regarding the significant changes, on one hand, Stephen King expresses the changes as “a total rewrite … a cheat” yet Giles Harvey states “[this] has not done Carver any favours. Rather, it has inadvertently pointed up the editorial genius of Gordon Lish.

Muckrakers played an important role in reforming and creating massive change during the nineteenth century. Extreme tabloid journalism was the norm during the nineteenth century. Facts seemed lost and reporters wrote sensational articles in order to sell newspapers. One reporter however broke the norms, Ida.

The “American dream” was a promise the United States had made to provide equality, freedom, justice and opportunity to anyone residing in the United States of America. This three word statement, provided hope, prosperity and success for outsiders seeking to immigrate to the United States. Between the civil war and WWI, the industrial revolution started and the United States quickly became the most industrial powerful country. “By the beginning of world war I, one third of all Jews in Russia and eastern Europe had emigrated, most of them to the United States. America had caught their “fancy”.

The first or major event that jumpstarted Janie’s life was perhaps when Nanny convinced Janie that she should marry Logan, which wasn’t all for the right reasons. Nanny wanted her to marry him because he had money and he could provide for her and keep her financially stable. Their relationship was brittle and dry. Logan just expected her to clean up, make the food and basically be a house slave. There was no love in that relationship and it was mentally draining Janie.

The cast entertains audience members as Mary Poppins flies in and out of scenes, kites are flown over the audience, and a disco ball transforms the auditorium into star filled heavens. A special effect unique to high school productions, flying characters across the stage required some additional expertise. The school hired a company called Flying By Foy out of Los Vegas. The company came in, set up the equipment, and trained the cast and crew on how to use the system. Mary Poppins flies more than just a few times in this play and Maryn Tueller loves it.

Since early ages, mothers have always criticized the ways their daughters acted. In the 1920s criticisms were taken a step further by the flappers, who completely revolutionized the view on females. Flappers in the 1920s had an impact on women for the future. Who they were, what they wore, and what their morals were was how their impacts changed the future for all the females. “The term "flapper" originated in the 1920s and refers to the fashion trend for unfastened rubber galoshes that "flapped" when walking, an attribution reinforced by the image of the free-wheeling flapper in popular culture.”