Discourse in Disciplinary Gaze in Edith Wharton'sThe House of Mirth

Abstract

The present research explores the discourse in disciplinary gaze of characters in Edith Wharton'sThe House of Mirth.Protagonist attempts to escape from the discursive morality assigned to her as to achieve republic of spirit and gain material prosperity, but the society practices and continues its established discursive gaze having disciplining motif towards protagonist so that it would be easy to keep control over her mental and physical activities. Escape from stationto room or New York to abroad provides no hope at all. Her inability to break free from discourse and disciplinary gaze can't offer alternative way to life providing authenticity to her earlier position except to succumb her on the alter of power. Circumstances that discourse has created and power that disciplinary gaze has practiced discourages her to fight against financial crisis and social conventions that impair her physically and mentally. Burden of failure with no hope drags her to death.