The Portrait by Edith Wharton (1908)
The novel revolves around the life of a young woman who becomes disillusioned with her marriage and the societal expectations placed upon her. She begins to question the values and morals of her wealthy and aristocratic family, seeking a more authentic and meaningful existence. Through her journey, she undergoes a transformation from innocence to self-awareness, grappling with the constraints imposed by her social class and the limitations of her gender.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1908 · Genre: Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction · 8,547 words
First lines
It was at Mrs. Mellish's, one Sunday afternoon last spring. We were talking over George Lillo's portraits -- a collection of them was being shown at Durand-Ruel's -- and a pretty woman had emphatically declared: --
"Nothing on earth would induce me to sit to him!"
What this Textopian page supports
The Portrait is listed on Textopian as a novella by Edith Wharton, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Edith Wharton
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Criticism
- Length: 8,547 words
- Structure: 1 section, 113 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Portrait by Edith Wharton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Portrait?
- How does this novella by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Afterward by Edith Wharton
- The Ghost by Edith Nesbit
- Crucial Instances by Edith Wharton
- A Cup Of Cold Water by Edith Wharton
- Despair by Edith Nesbit
- Home Coming by Egerton Castle
Genres
- Fiction — The narrative is a created story, not based on true events.
- Drama — The narrative contains conflict and emotional tension.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the mental and emotional states of the characters.
- Social Criticism — The narrative critiques societal norms and expectations.
Tags
Gothic Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Supernatural · Family Drama · Romance · Tragedy · Dark Fantasy · Haunted House · Ghost Story · American Literature · Classic Novel