2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase
Edith Wharton: Impact to the 19th Century American Short Story
Document Type
Student Presentation
Presentation Date
4-24-2026
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Tara Penry
Abstract
Edith Wharton had a lasting and fundamental role in the evolution of the 19th-century American short story. Her writing encompasses her experience of New York City in the Gilded Age with the concept of early Modernism, blending the two concepts into stories that incorporate psychological narratives with social constructs, typically involving women. Much of Wharton’s work focuses on the aspect of women in Gilded Age societies such as New York City, where marriage is the “norm” and the unsteady balance between “new money” and “old money” is at the forefront of her narratives. Her use of psychological depth, as well, balances out the social constructs thrown onto women in her stories, highlighting the inner reality and struggles of these women. Modernism is used as a twist in her writing as the use of unreliable narration and intense irony allows for a more involved reader and moves away from the typical form of the short story, which gives way to a more “fragmented” outlook of society.
Recommended Citation
Fortik, Gabrielle and Penry, Tara, "Edith Wharton: Impact to the 19th Century American Short Story" (2026). 2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase. 65.
https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/under_showcase_2026/65