age of innocence shmoop

In her first, richly detailed chapter, she introduces old New York's social order, its code of conduct and superficial values, and the main characters that will interact within its boundaries. Edith Wharton often describes the old New York of her childhood as "little." The novel opens with Newland Archer attending the opera, where New York society often gathers. … Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of The Age of Innocence and what it means. Both she and Archer are aware that by appearing in the Mingott box with the Countess Olenska, Archer is demonstrating his connection to that family and his support of their decision to include the Countess in their social activities. As the fiancé of May Welland, he decides that he has the responsibility to defend the Mingott clan.During intermission, he hurries over to the Mingott box. As he glances across the filled theater, he spots May Welland, his new fianceé, seated in the box of her aristocratic old grandmother, Mrs. Manson Mingott. One of the individual's foremost duties is to promote and protect the solidarity of his tightly knit group of blood and marital relationships. Characters include:Newland Archer ,Countess Ellen Olenska ,May Welland ,Mrs. Manson Mingott ,Henry and Louisa van der Luyden and more

And who has more snark and know-how than Edith Wharton? By August, a year later, Newland and May have settled into a fashionable if boring life in New York, living in a wealthy part of town and spending summers with the rest of the rich in Newport.

Meanwhile, Archer becomes increasingly disillusioned with his new fianceé, May. Plot Summary. The Age of Innocence Edith Wharton's novel The Age of Innocence captures a moment in time, New York in the 1870s, a period frequently referred to as the Gilded Age . A slim young woman wearing a theatrical and low-cut dress takes a seat in the box, seemingly unconscious of all the attention she attracts. Insular. Newland and Madame Olenska are passionately in love with each other, but they're up against the force of nature that is Little Old New York's innocence. A Tale of Two Cities Heart of Darkness Othello Pride and Prejudice The Taming of the Shrew.

Now Archer's son convinces him to travel to France.

He is struck by her flippant, friendly manners and finds her descriptions of New York society rather disrespectful.After the opera, many of the wealthy New York families attend the annual ball at the Beaufort residence.

The Rules of Society Theme in The Age of Innocence | LitCharts. Julius Beaufort, we learn, is a handsome, charming, and disreputable Englishman with a shady financial history and a strong tendency toward infidelity; his wife Regina is a pretty but dull woman of reputable family background. Archer stands with his best man on the step of Grace Church. He begins to see her as the manufactured product of her class: polite, innocent, and utterly devoid of personal opinion and sense of self.The Countess Olenska soon announces her intention of divorcing her husband. Summary.

Detailed Summary & Analysis Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter … Carver is a spiritualist—a person who... The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of The Rules of Society appears in each chapter of The Age of Innocence.

Back in New York, Archer learns that Count Olenski wants his wife to return to him and that Ellen has refused. May throws a farewell party for Ellen, and after the guests leave, May announces to Archer that she is pregnant and that she told Ellen her news two weeks earlier.Twenty-five years pass. Creepy. Values.

In that time, the Archers have had three children and May has died from pneumonia. A short summary of Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of The Age of Innocence. In a moment alone together in the conservatory, they express their happiness. Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. Critical Essays Themes in The Age of Innocence. May (Welland) Archer. It's the American Dream all over again: making it big from nothing at all, getting in with the popular kids, winning the lottery.But the thing about the American Dream is that, at least in the sarcasm-tastic world of literature, In a nutshell, New York high society in the 1870s was in a nutshell. Check out our revolutionary side-by-side summary and analysis. Although no words are exchanged between May and himself as to the reason for his sudden appearance, she shows her understanding of the situation and her gratitude to Archer with her smile.