| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-7页 |
| 摘要 | 第7-9页 |
| Contents | 第9-10页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第10-17页 |
| ·Literature Review | 第10-13页 |
| ·Major Argument | 第13-15页 |
| ·An Overview of Chapters | 第15-17页 |
| Chapter Two Ambiguities and Contradictions in Wharton's Understanding of Human Nature | 第17-35页 |
| ·Ambiguities and contradictions in Wharton's portrayal of characters | 第17-27页 |
| ·Lily Bart—a beautiful rose | 第17-21页 |
| ·Newland Archer—a brave coward | 第21-23页 |
| ·May Welland—a complex product of society | 第23-25页 |
| ·Ellen Olenska—a mild rebel against conventions | 第25-27页 |
| ·The Types of Conflicts | 第27-30页 |
| ·Conflicts between the social groups | 第28-29页 |
| ·Conflicts between the ideal-self and the social-self | 第29-30页 |
| ·The Sources of ambiguities and contradictions | 第30-35页 |
| ·The big historical environment | 第31-32页 |
| ·The small social circle | 第32-33页 |
| ·Wharton's double roles—as a woman and a writer | 第33-35页 |
| Chapter Three Conventions and Constraints in Wharton's Understanding of Human Nature | 第35-47页 |
| ·Conventions and constraints in Wharton's portrayal of characters | 第35-41页 |
| ·Lily Bart—beautiful, strong but a sacrifice | 第35-37页 |
| ·Newland Archer—brave, eager for freedom but an idealist | 第37-38页 |
| ·May Welland—"innocent", hollow, but a winner | 第38-39页 |
| ·Ellen Olenska—mysterious, unconventional, but a victim | 第39-41页 |
| ·The Sources of conventions and constraints | 第41-47页 |
| ·The constraints from the era | 第41-43页 |
| ·Wharton's life experience | 第43-45页 |
| ·Transition of Wharton's concept of values | 第45-47页 |
| Chapter Four Conclusion | 第47-49页 |
| Works Cited | 第49-52页 |
| Publications | 第52页 |
