`New´ New York and `Old´ New York

Information:

There were significant changes in New York City and the whole US at the turn from 19^th to 20^th century. Summing up, those changes can be described as a general liberalization of attitudes and the way of life. This was a process, which happened relatively quickly in New York City, but still there was a period of partial changes, which is described in “Autres Temps”.

In “Autres Temps”:

The contrast between this new, more liberal and modern New York City and the old, conservative and traditional New York City is a recurrent theme in “Autres Temps”. The behavior of society towards Mrs. Lidcote stands in contrast to the behavior towards Leila. The “old-fashioned categories”, Mrs. Lidcote is judged by and also judges others, completely differ from the “latest New York ideas” she is confronted with through members of the younger generation. Before her disenchantment of finding out that this liberalization does not apply to her, she is torn between fear and insecurity on one hand and hope on the other hand.

Sources:

• Kornetta, Reiner (1996): Das Korsett im Kopf: Ehe und Ökonomie in den Kurzgeschichten Edith Whartons. Peter Lang – Europäischer Verlag der Wissenschaften: Frankfurt am Main.