The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, published in 1920, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set in 1870s New York high society. It explores themes of social convention, duty, and forbidden love.
Summary:
Newland Archer, a wealthy
and respectable young lawyer, is engaged to marry May Welland, a beautiful and
proper young woman who perfectly fits the expectations of New York’s
upper-class society. Their marriage is seen as ideal—secure, respectable, and
socially advantageous.
However, Newland’s world
is shaken when May’s cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, returns to New York after
leaving her unhappy marriage to a Polish count. Ellen is independent,
unconventional, and scandalous by society’s standards. Despite society’s
disapproval, Newland is drawn to her free spirit, intelligence, and emotional
depth—everything he finds lacking in May.
As Newland grows closer to
Ellen, he begins to question the rigid values of the world he inhabits. Though
he falls deeply in love with Ellen, both are aware of the social consequences
of an affair or broken engagement. Ultimately, Ellen chooses to leave New York
to avoid further scandal and protect May’s reputation.
Newland marries May and
settles into a life of social conformity. Years later, after May has died and
his children are grown, Newland travels to Paris with his son, who arranges a
meeting with Ellen. However, at the last moment, Newland decides not to see
her—choosing instead to keep the memory of their love untouched by the passage
of time.
Themes:
- Social Convention vs. Individual Desire:
The struggle between societal expectations and personal happiness is
central.
- The Illusion of Innocence:
Wharton critiques the hypocrisy and constraints of the upper class.
- Sacrifice and Resignation:
Characters suppress their true desires to maintain social harmony.
The Age of
Innocence is a poignant
and beautifully written examination of love, duty, and the cost of choosing
society over self. Wharton’s portrayal of Gilded Age New York is both critical
and nostalgic, highlighting the emotional costs of rigid social order.
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