going along with society
Edith Wharton was the fist woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for The Age of Innocence in 1921(Magill, Masterplots II 1: 40). She likes to show what happens to people that are not prepared to live in a complicated world in her novels. Like Wharton's other novels, The Age of Innocence involves a love triangle. This seems to be her favorite way of showing her characters' uncertainty (Magill, Masterplots II 1:39). In Edith Wharton's novel, The Age of Innocence, she illustrates the need for men and woman to find passion within an ordered and repressed society.The Age Of Innocence, is referring to the author's first hand experiences of life in a noble society during the 1870's (Faust 2: 371). "Her novel captures the atmosphere of aristocratic New York as its inhabitants move about in their world of subtle ties, innuendoes, and strict adherence to the dictates of fashionable society (Magill, Masterplots I: 85). The novel was probably so successful because the author knew so much about this subject (Wharton, vii). Her life experiences were much like those of her characters. To begin with, Wharton was brought up in a rich New York society, which is
There are many examples that indicate this in the novel. For one, Newland Archer is a man who is different from most people in old New York, but he is lacking the motivation and courage to separate himself physically from the security of the life he has known all his life (Magill, Masterplots 1: 85). Instead, He decides to stay in an unchanging society and put up with the dullness of May. His decision to do so was probably a great personal loss. Wharton makes the reader believe that Archer lives an beautified life, but what happiness he could have had from breaking away from society, "was gently but firmly denied of him" (Magill, Critical 8: 3537). Archer sacrifices his passion in order to be an upright husband and a contributing member of society (Magill, Masterplots II 1: 40). If he chooses his other option, he would have paid a great price. "A price that most of us, says Wharton, lack the strength to pay" (Faust, 371). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press, 1995. Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence. New York: Macmillan Publishing Edith Wharton's novel The Age of Innocence, illustrates the need for men and women to find passion within an ordered and repressed society. Wharton clearly demonstrates how the influence of society effects people. Through May, she shows us the result of what happens if one does everything that they can to go along with society's traditions. Ellen on the other hand is the product of what happens to someone who rebels against society. Archer is on the border of both. He wants to reject the traditions of his society; much like Ellen has, but does not have the strength to do so. As a result of this, he lives his life feeling trapped he word innocence plays an important role in this novel. It refers to a chaotic time period of rapid changes, the allusions of the opera, Faust, and the innocence of the characters. Perhaps the reason her novel was so successful was because she knew the subject so well and had similar experiences as her charact
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Approximate Word count = 1392
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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