| Chinese Abstract | 第1-5页 |
| English Abstract | 第5-7页 |
| 1. Introduction | 第7-13页 |
| 2. The Exterior and Interior Causes of Wharton's Pessimism | 第13-21页 |
| ·The Exterior Causes of Wharton's Pessimism | 第13-18页 |
| ·The Socioeconomic and Political Background at the Turn of the 20~(th) Century | 第14-15页 |
| ·The Literary Trends at the Turn of the 20~(th) Century and Its Impact on Edith Wharton | 第15-18页 |
| ·The Interior Causes of Wharton's Pessimism | 第18-21页 |
| 3.The Reflection of Wharton's Pessimism Through Three of Her Major Works | 第21-38页 |
| ·The Lily Who Pursues "Republic of the Spirit" until Death in The House of Mirth (1905) | 第21-27页 |
| ·The Obscure Self-awareness Wakes Up in the Visional Love | 第21-25页 |
| ·The Economic Status as the Most Important Determinant of Tragedy | 第25-27页 |
| ·The Ethan Who Couldn't Escape From the Spiritual "Starkfield" in Ethan Frome (1911) | 第27-32页 |
| ·The Self-shut Heart Collides in the Depressed Love | 第27-30页 |
| ·The Natural Environment as the Most Important Determinant of Tragedy | 第30-32页 |
| ·The Ellen Who Self-exile From Spiritual Love in The Age of Innocence (1920) | 第32-38页 |
| ·The Lonely Wandering Soul Relax in the Unconventional Love | 第32-35页 |
| ·The Social Convention as the Most Important Determinant of Tragedy | 第35-38页 |
| 4.Conclusion | 第38-42页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第42-43页 |
| Bibliography | 第43-45页 |
