The Custom of the Country

What is Wharton’s commentary on Old Wealth and traditional values?

The Custom of the Country is labeled as a “tragicomedy.” In what ways is the novel both tragic and comical? What is significant about this tone?

Who should Undine have remained married to: Elmer, Ralph, or Raymond? Why?

What are the cultural differences between American and French society in the novel, and why does it explore these differences?

Why does Ralph kill himself? Could he have done anything else to avoid his tragic fate? Explain your reasoning.

What is the symbolic meaning of Dakota? Why does Wharton include a focus on the American West in this novel?

Is Elmer Moffatt a protagonist or an antagonist? Explain your reasoning, using evidence from the novel.

Edith Wharton was herself a member of an elite New York City society family. Does this background change your interpretation of the novel? Why or why not?