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Cover of The Custom of the Country

The Custom of the Country

Written by Edith Wharton

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SatireDomestic fictionAmericansNew York (N.Y.)Paris (France)Upper classRemarried people

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About this book

"The Custom of the Country" by Edith Wharton is a novel written during the early 20th century. The book explores themes of societal ambition and the pursuit of status through the character of Undine Spragg, a young woman from a small town who aspires to rise in New York's high society. The opening of the novel introduces Undine and her mother, Mrs. Spragg, during their stay at a luxury hotel in New York. The narrative presents a vivid depiction of their wealthy yet disconnected lives, highlighting Undine's dissatisfaction and her yearning for social acceptance. After receiving an invitation from Mrs. Fairford to dine, Undine's excitement is palpable, revealing her eagerness to engage with the upper echelons of society. The dynamic between Undine, her mother, and their societal surroundings sets the stage for the exploration of ambition, materialism, and identity that will unfold throughout the book. Undine's character emerges as driven and conflicted, navigating her way through a world that often seems perplexing and disheartening.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Custom of the Country, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 10 hours
  • advanced
  • satirical
  • critical
  • melancholy

Edith Wharton's "The Custom of the Country" masterfully critiques early 20th-century American society through the relentless social ascent of Undine Spragg. A beautiful but superficial young woman from the American Midwest, Undine uses her charm and a series of strategic marriages to navigate the rigid social hierarchies of New York, Paris, and ultimately back to New York. The novel exposes the transactional nature of marriage, the corrosive power of materialism, and the clash between old-world aristocratic values and new-world industrial wealth. Undine's unceasing ambition, though often successful in acquiring status, leaves her perpetually unfulfilled, highlighting the hollowness at the heart of her 'custom of the country'.

“She was not a monster, she was only an Undine.”

Key themes

Social Climbing and Ambition
The novel's central theme is the relentless pursuit of social status and the lengths to which individuals, particularly women, will go to achieve it. Undine Spragg embodies this ambition, using her beauty and strategic marriages as tools to ascend from provincial origins to the highest echelons of New York and Parisian society. Wharton critiques the shallowness of a society where status is paramount and often divorced from genuine merit or moral character.
Materialism vs. Culture
Wharton sharply contrasts the values of inherited culture, art, and tradition with the rampant materialism and consumerism of the 'new rich.' Undine and her parents represent the latter, valuing objects for their cost and ability to confer status, rather than for their intrinsic beauty or historical significance. The Marvells and de Chelles, conversely, embody an appreciation for art, books, and family heritage, which they see being eroded by modern commercialism.
Marriage as a Transaction
The novel portrays marriage not primarily as an institution of love or companionship, but as a strategic transaction for social, financial, or aristocratic gain. Undine's multiple marriages are explicitly driven by her ambition to improve her social standing and access greater wealth or titles. Wharton critiques the 'custom of the country' (easy divorce and remarriage) that facilitated this transactional approach, eroding traditional moral and social bonds.

Worth discussing

How does Undine Spragg embody or subvert the traditional 'American Dream' of her era? Is she a villain, a victim, or both?

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