Discourse in Disciplinary Gaze in Edith Wharton'sThe House of Mirth
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Department of English
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.