The Quicksand by Edith Wharton
The story revolves around the character of Anna Leath, a wealthy and beautiful widow who is struggling to come to terms with her past and find meaning in her life. She becomes infatuated with a young man named Dr. Gise, but their social differences and the moral conventions of the time make their love impossible. As Anna navigates her feelings and the societal pressures around her, she begins to realize that she is trapped in a life that is not truly hers, and that she must find a way to break free from the constraints that bind her.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1902 · Genre: Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Criticism · 3 chapters · 9,283 words
First lines
AS Mrs. Quentin's victoria, driving homeward, turned from the Park into Fifth Avenue, she divined her son's tall figure walking ahead of her in the twilight. His long stride covered the ground more rapidly than usual, and she had a premonition that, if he were going home at that hour, it was because he wanted to see her.
What this Textopian page supports
The Quicksand is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edith Wharton, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Edith Wharton
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Criticism, Realism
- Length: 9,283 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 136 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Quicksand 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 Quicksand?
- How does this novel by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Long Run by Edith Wharton
- Full Circle by Edith Wharton
- The Muses Tragedy by Edith Wharton
- The Pretext by Edith Wharton
- Sanctuary by Edith Wharton
- Souls Belated by Edith Wharton
Genres
- Drama — The narrative is filled with emotional conflicts and struggles, making it a drama.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the psychological states of its characters, making it a psychological fiction.
- Social Criticism — The narrative critiques societal norms and expectations, making it a social criticism.
- Realism — The narrative depicts life and society in a realistic manner, making it a realism.
Tags
Romance · Novel · Classic · Literary Fiction · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Social Class · Marriage · Infidelity · Adultery · Family Drama · Psychological Insight
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III