The Age of Innocence

Theme

The most obvious and dominant theme of this novel is individual verses society. The society that is described in the novel is a very old fashioned and upper class accumulation of families. They come from New York old money and have very high standards of typical behavior. Behavior that includes proper manners, modesty, and close family ties.

Newland Archer is the one that is struggling to cooperate with such standards. However, if he doesn’t cooperate then he is seen as unorthodox. Newland sacrifices is true self to the controlling ties of society. For example, Newland desires to leave May and pursue Ellen but because May is pregnant and is his soon to be wife he stays with her in order to keep his good name and status to society.

Despite that Ellen appalled the old New York class with her revealing clothes and free spirited attitude; she also tries to leave her husband for the sake of his mistreatment towards her. But her idealistic old New York family tells her that if she does not stay by his side that they would no longer financially support her. She couldn't leave him because society sought it out to be morally unacceptable. Ellen tries so hard to fit the standards of old New York but is ultimately defeated by society and goes back to Europe because she cannot live the appropriate New York lifestyle.

Tone

Edith Wharton creates a romantic yet harsh tone throughout the course of the novel. The romantic tone is set by Wharton because of her use of poetic and descriptive diction, fervent figurative language, and traditional syntax.  “…She said she knew we were safe with you, and always would be, because once, when she asked you to, you’d given up the thing you wanted most.” This quote describes a very meaningful resolution in the novel and is said plainly using traditional syntax. Even though the syntax is traditional it still has immense meaning. The poetic diction is used throughout the entire novel, especially when Newland describes his feelings periodically. “All the beauty that had forsaken her face seemed to have taken refuge in the long pale fingers and faintly dimpled knuckles on his sleeve, and he said to himself: ‘If it were only to see her hand again I should have to follow her.’” This quote is a prime example of the poetic diction used in the novel. By using multitudes of similes, metaphors, and imagery the tone is balanced between a romantic pursuit with the reality of society.

Mood

The mood of The Age of Innocence is somewhat sympathetic but also morose. The romantic side of the tone creates feelings of sympathy for the characters and situations described in the novel. The tragic love affair and the characters failed attempts to pursue their desires of a life outside the standards of society create a sense of sorrow for the pain and frustration the characters are going through. The morose mood is intertwined with these situations because they all end up in failure. The characters back down and don’t follow through with their actions or fate just has a different plan, which results in the disappointing and depressing morose mood.  

Plot Perspective

            The great thing about this novel is that is that the author, Edith Wharton uses different types of perspective to move the story along. At first glance you may think that the plot is written in 3^rd person omniscient, but with a more in-depth look you see that it is really written in 3^rd person limited. However she does use the characters to describe and narrate though their actions and predictable actions; this lets you have a 360 degree view on what is really going on. In some parts of the book, the text is written in 1^st person; Ex. When Newland Archer is describing that his fiancée is the most handsome in the room. The multiple approaches that Wharton uses on perspective is responsible for the shear brilliance and success of the novel.

Protagonist Deconstruction

            Newland Archer is the main character and protagonist of the novel. He is truly a “free-spirit” at heart but it all comes to the surface with the introduction of countess Elen Olenska. He is both fascinated with how she displays herself and the style of mannerisms she possesses. He becomes bored and almost disgusted of the old New York society that he has so long been apart of, and wants to break free and be his own person. The main problem though, is if he acts on those thoughts and wants surely a trail of misfortune will trail him and a life of exile, criticism and ridicule will arise. Early on in the story Archer begins to question if May will ever be able to think and act for herself and contemplates them getting married. He also criticizes the lifestyles of various figures in his society, and strongly admires and becomes highly enveloped with the “un-fit” ways of Countess Olenska. Through a slip-n-slide account of moral-feuding events and scandalous behavior, he tosses aside his tantalizing dreams in the end and continues the simple but content life with his true love May that he fought against so passionately before.