The Pretext by Edith Wharton (1930)

The novel revolves around the life of a young woman who is torn between her desire for independence and her need for social conformity. The protagonist is forced to choose between her artistic ambitions and the conventional expectations placed upon her by society. Through this struggle, the novel explores themes of identity, morality, and the limitations imposed on women during the early 20th century.

By Edith Wharton · First published 1930 · Genre: Social Realism, Psychological Fiction, Drama · 5 chapters · 15,114 words

First lines

MRS. RANSOM, when the front door had closed on her visitor, passed with a spring from the drawing-room to the narrow hall, and thence up the narrow stairs to her bedroom.

Though slender, and still light of foot, she did not always move so quickly: hitherto, in her life, there had not been much to hurry for, save the recurring domestic tasks that compel haste without fostering elasticity; but some impetus of youth revived, communicated to her by her talk with Guy Dawnish, now found expression in her girlish flight upstairs, her girlish impatience to bolt herself into her room with her throbs and her blushes.

What this Textopian page supports

The Pretext is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Wharton, dated 1930 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Edith Wharton
• Date: 1930 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Social Realism, Psychological Fiction, Drama, Romance
• Length: 15,114 words
• Structure: 5 chapters, 188 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Pretext 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 Pretext?
• How does this short story by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Social Realism first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Mission Of Jane by Edith Wharton
• Souls Belated by Edith Wharton
• The Reckoning by Edith Wharton
• The Egoists by Edith Nesbit
• The Touchstone by Edith Wharton
• The Long Run by Edith Wharton

Genres

• Social Realism — The narrative focuses on the social dynamics and moral values of the upper class society.
• Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the psychological complexities of its characters.
• Drama — The narrative is filled with emotional conflicts and dramatic turns.
• Romance — The narrative includes romantic relationships as a central theme.

Tags

Romance · Novel · Classic · Literary Fiction · Social Commentary · Psychological Insight · Character Study · Marriage · Deception · Society · Upper Class · American Literature

Contents

• CHAPTER I
• CHAPTER II
• CHAPTER III
• CHAPTER IV
• CHAPTER V

More by Edith Wharton

• Atrophy (1937)
• A Bottle of Perrier (1924)
• Mr. Jones (1924)
• After Holbein (1924)
• Dieu D'Amour (1924)
• The Refugees (1924)
• The Spark (1924)
• The Old Maid (1924)
• All works by Edith Wharton