The Age of Innocence

"The worst of doing one's duty was that it apparently unfitted one for doing anything else." -Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence

Book: The Age of Innocence

Author: Edith Wharton

Year Published: 1920

Analysis:

When thoroughly and properly examined, Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence is a fascinating read. The beginning chapters might seems a bit slow and tedious, especially for those who are unaccustomed to the structured, formal language. However, the initial "slowness" is more than atoned for by the end of the novel. Wharton's book is intricate. Although the reader might not recognize this fact early in the book, towards the end of the novel the reader begins to see how tightly and skillfully woven the book actually is. I also found that The Age of Innocence is brimming with meaningful imagery. Wharton continually gives her readers clues and insights about her characters and the plot within this imagery, which makes it all the lovelier. Aside from the imagery, the characters from the Age of Innocence are equally beautiful. Newland, Ellen and May are vibrant, captivating portraits of their time. I especially like that the novel is given from a male perspective. Most books of this kind are female centric. Don't mistake me, I adore a good Victorian heroine, but seeing a romance unfold from a male point of view is deeply intriguing, especially considering the fact that the book was written by a woman. Another thing that I loved about The Age of Innocence is that Wharton allows all of her characters to explain themselves. She could have easily written May and her family as snobs, which they are, but she reveals their complexities and allows the reader to understand characters who they might otherwise find un-relatable. Wharton does this especially well with Newland, since he is the narrator we see his thoughts which are sometimes noble, but we also see how enticing societal norms are for him. This helps the reader realize that Newland isn't a true snob, if put in his position wouldn't any one be tempted to act similarly? Anyway, in my opinion, The Age of Innocence is a beautiful, poignant novel that juxtaposes images of tradition and change, and of duty and desire, and it stands out as a rich and insightful picture of "Old New York", and upper class society in general.

*Spoiler alert*

Thoughts about the ending:

The ending, although thoroughly frustrating, should not come as a complete surprise if you pay careful attention throughout the book. However, as much as I understand that structurally the novel had to end that way, I'm going to choose to believe that Newland and Ellen meet accidentallly in some obscure corner of the L'ouvre and fall in love again--instantly. ♥

Favorite Quote/Passage:

"The amber beads were trying to her complexion, or her dress was perhaps unbecoming: her face looked lusterless and almost ugly, and he had never loved it as he did at that minute. Their hands met, and he thought he heard her say: "Yes, we're sailing tomorrow in the Russia--" then there was an unmeaning noise of opening doors, and after an interval May's voice: 'Newland! Dinner's been announced. Won't you please take Ellen in?'

Madame Olenska put her hand on his arm, and he noticed that the hand was ungloved, and remembered how he had kept his eyes fixed on it the evening that he had sat with her in the little Twenty-third Street drawing room. 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--' " (chapter 33)