Age of Innocence

I remember I told a friend, "I hate Age of Innocence" I suppose there is a reason as to why people say that hate is a strong word because I regret saying it. I didn't realize that there is so much more to Age of Innocence than I thought there was. Now, I can see why this book is one of Mrs. Clinch's favorite book. For this blog, I just want to point out a few of really interesting ideas I found.

To start, my opinion changed as I read the book's final third section, chapter 25 to the end. The first difference was the pacing of the book; it was much faster. The events started to escalate and the process of resolution kept me absorbed throughout the whole book. The incidence with M. Riviere and the conversation started off slow but quickened as we learned that he was the mysterious secretary Countess Olenska ran away with. An interesting point here is that May, when Archer asked her to if he could invite Riviere to dinner, she completely dismissed the idea. Therefore, the fact that Ellen trusted Riviere and trusted him even though he was from a lower class. The contrast again reiterates May's ignorance and Ellen's acceptance. The scene with M. Riviere also brings up how he is similar to the characters in Doll's House because he says,  "I returned to him, a few months ago, for reasons of private necessity such as may happen to any one who has persons ill and older persons, dependent on him" (Wharton 165). He did what he did (going back to Count Olenski's employment) because he had to. The circumstances of other people depending on him for survival caused him to take on a mission that he strongly wished to avoid. As I read this passage, I couldn't help thinking about Nora, Christine, and Krogstad. They, similar to M. Riviere, committed actions they preferably wouldn't have wanted to in order to survive. This comparison shows that people's sense of loyalty and love for others causes them to take a certain path that would be condemned by society.

Also, I thought this particular section mentioned the aspects of society more frequently than before. The most protruding line was, "After all, a young woman's place was under her husband's roof..." (169) This idea repeated itself several times and again, another similarity to Doll's House. As the family in Age of Innocence discussed Ellen's affairs, the idea of separate spheres was stressed, along with the importance of keeping to traditions and staying away from trends.

Nora = Archer; however, only in their pride and temper. Archer's scene in the library with Mr. Jackson so similarly connected with Nora's confrontation with Krogstad. Both of their ego won over and led them to dig their holes. Wharton's line perfectly lays out the situation, "... as if this were exactly the fact he had been laying a trap for" and "he had once more the feeling that it was exactly what Mr. Jackson had been waiting for" (171). Although Archer is consciously aware of Mr. Jackson's intention, his pride and temper gets the best of him, causing him to show a side of him that would have been better off not revealing. For both Nora and Archer, the things they say makes them suffer.

What I really loved about Age of Innocence was the last chapter. The epilogue was not only fascinating because of its 26 years fast forwarded plot but also because of Archer's changed view of society and life. New York's old family no longer stayed in the old fashioned world and advanced with the changing culture. Archer puts away Ellen as something that's just unobtainable and lives his life to the fullest, "starting the first school for crippled children, reorganizing the Museum of Art, founding the Grolier Club, inaugurating the new Library, or getting up a new society of chamber music" (225) Rather than keeping his view (gentlemen didn't work), he allowed himself to be occupied by meaningful work and did things for his society. This development shows how much Archer changed in the span of time. He is no longer a love-sick man who wished to get away from principles, rather, he changed to someone who found value in principles and of change.