Abstract: The Age of Innocence was written by Edith Wharton, who came from the USA. The Age of Innocence tells a story that happened in the upper-class from a man’s point of view. The two main female characters have their own special features. May Welland was the representative of the old New York City, and she was considered to be a good girl and a perfect wife. Ellen Olenska was the representative of those who pursued love, freedom and equality. These two main female characters were selected by the writer intentionally. Their behaviors and mental activities corresponded to those of the goddess. This thesis will focus on the mythical prototypes of the two main female characters and interpret the meanings implied in the two female characters, so that the readers could understand the work deeply and clearly.
Key words: The Age of Innocence; May Welland; Ellen Olenska; mythical prototype
摘要：《纯真年代》的作者是来自美国的伊迪丝·华顿。《纯真年代》这本小说通过一个男人的视角，讲诉了一个发生纽约上流社会的故事，里面两位主要女性人物梅·韦兰和埃伦·奥兰斯卡有着各自的特点。梅是老纽约的代表，表面纯真，是当时社会公认的好姑娘、好妻子，并努力维护自己家庭的完整。埃伦则是另一种代表，追求自由、平等以及爱情，可是被当时的纽约上流社会不能接受,最终独居欧洲。两位女性人物名称均是作者有意选择，他们的行为、做法与神话故事中的人物相对应。本文作者希望通过对《纯真年代》中女性人物的各种行为以及心理活动，对其原型进行分析和作者这样命名的意图,使读者对作品有着更清晰深刻的理解。
关键词：《纯真年代》; 梅·韦兰; 埃伦·奥兰斯卡; 神话原型
