| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-8页 |
| 摘要 | 第8-9页 |
| Chapter I Introduction | 第9-14页 |
| ·Background | 第9-11页 |
| ·Rationale and Methodology | 第11-14页 |
| Chapter II Naturalism and Its Influence on Edith Wharton | 第14-20页 |
| ·Darwinism and Social Darwinism | 第14-15页 |
| ·General Introduction to Naturalism | 第15-17页 |
| ·Influence on Edith Wharton | 第17-20页 |
| Chapter III Determinism in Edith Wharton's Fiction | 第20-35页 |
| ·General Introduction to Determinism | 第20-22页 |
| ·Determinism in Edith Wharton's Fiction | 第22-35页 |
| ·Determinism in The House of Mirth | 第23-27页 |
| ·Determinism in The Age of Innocence | 第27-35页 |
| Chapter IV Free Will in Edith Wharton's Fiction | 第35-56页 |
| ·General Introduction to Free will | 第35-37页 |
| ·Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs | 第37-39页 |
| ·Self-Actualization and Self-Transcendence | 第39-42页 |
| ·Free Will in The House of Mirth | 第42-48页 |
| ·Faith and Courage of Nettie | 第43-45页 |
| ·Moral Superiority and Self-redemption of Lily | 第45-48页 |
| ·Free Will in The Age Of Innocence | 第48-56页 |
| ·Independence of Thought and Desire for Freedom of Ellen | 第48-52页 |
| ·Acceptance and Adaptation of Newland | 第52-56页 |
| Chapter V Conclusion | 第56-60页 |
| Works Cited | 第60-63页 |
| 攻读学位期间的研究成果 | 第63页 |
