Deviation from Social Code: Analysis of Characters and Theme of The Age of Innocence

Edith Whartons The senesce of Innocence (1920) is a detailed depiction of social conventions and decorum of the game society of New York during the late 19th century. One of the central themes of the wise is the struggle of an individual inside a smashed society. Order, loyalty, tradition and profession ar the values upheld by the society where Newland Archer grew up. He is a lawyer, engaged to be married to May Welland, raised to be a perfect wife and mother according to societys standards (Wharton, 1998).These equal rules and standards dictate that she pretends to be ignorant of her fiances feelings toward Countess Ellen Olenska. For a abundant time, Newland and Ellen had to sacrifice their desires and feelings in order to maintain order in society. rescript in The Age of Innocence shapes and directs the life of an individual, sacrificing what they truly want and truly believe in. orderlinesss forms and conventions decide how one should think and behave. Societys primary agent of its laws is the family, specifically the old money families be to the high society New York.These are the families with inherited wealth which separates them from the visit class. Their wealth is an important dimension in stratification because it ensures the financial stability of the future generation of the family. Their old money allows them a luxurious modus vivendi without having the need to work. The greatest manifestation of the importance of order is seen in family. It is the initiatory barter of the individual to promote and protect the harmony of his/her blood and marital relationships.The family disapproved Ellens decision to divorce his save despite his creation ignominious and cruel to her. For them, it was just natural to endure little sacrifices to maintain the family. By going against their principles, she became an outcast someone who is pitiful. At first, Newland was hesitant to be associated with Ellen. She has a bad reputation and he wanted no thing to do with her. However, the family anticipate him to help bring Ellen out in the public so he was forced to enter the Mingotts opera box and introduce himself.And of agate line level offtually, they hide their true feelings in fear of hurting their family. Following this duty to the family and society, a code of morality dictates the actions and thinking of the individual in whatsoever aspect of his/her life. May informed Newland of her passion by letting him derive that she cares for him as this is the only way a love of a schoolgirlish unmarried woman should be declared. She must conform to societys perfect portrayal of a young maiden ? sexually artless and ignorant on matters about affairs and passion (Barker-Benfield, 2000).She was fist seen with dust coat lilies in the valley, unaware of sexual implications of the scenes in the play she is watching. Later in the book, it was established that from the start she was aware of Newlands feelings towards the Countess b ut she chose to remain mute and follow the code of ignorance. Despite this knowledge, her wedding at Grace church must stay to maintain the order on how things should be done. Newland has his give birth list of socially mandated duties according to Lawrence Lefferts and Sillerton Jackson, undecomposed on manners and expert on family matters, respectively.Order in society is maintained through these rarefied practices to continue the continued knowence of the civilization. The social code is strictly enforced by society which compromises the personal freedom of the individual (Charles, Davies & Harris, 2008). Sometimes a family member has to let go of his/her personal wants and follow the decision of the family to nullify economic and political sanctions. Newland and Ellen could not pursue each other in order to maintain their social integrity. Even a simple head together cannot be done without arousing suspicion.To be divorced to a husband is frowned by society eventhough that husband treats you badly, go out with other women even men. Her family wanted her to seek reconciliation with her husband in order to reaffirm the values of society. When she refused to do so, they cut off her allowance as a consequence for her decision. In the end, Ellen chose to maintain her individuality by leaving America, a price she had to pay. She was forced out of New York, condemned by her own family, who believed that she and Newland are having a secret affair.Newland defended the right of Ellen to be with another man Im queasy of the hypocrisy that would bury alive a woman of her age if her husband prefers to live with harlots Women ought to be free as free as we are, he declared, making a discovery of which he was too irritated to broadside the terrific consequences. (Wharton, Book One, Chapter 5, p. 35) He condemned the double-standard prevalent in the society where a man can seek sexual pleasures outside a failed jointure but the woman cannot.He may have pr ogressive views but he was unaware of their implications in his own very traditional marriage. But these codes exist not without loopholes. Those who found these loopholes are often despised but palliate accepted in the society. Hypocrisy is common and rampant in honest-to-god New York high society. Families attend balls and gatherings hosted by the same person they disdain for being so common who they would gladly exile following the rumple of his business. Lawrence Lefferts claims to be an expert in Christian virtues while snubbing Ellen for being a divorcee.Newland is aware that if he leaves May for Ellen, societys sympathy pass on pour for May. She told Ellen of her pregnancy despite being unsure of it to drive her international from Newland. She was aware of Newlands passion for Ellen but did not say anything. This society, with its rigid rules and conventions, was challenged by the arrival of a new society symbolized by the Beauforts and Countess Ellen Olenska. though th ey were not successful in blending and harmonizing with the old societys tradition, they opened new possibilities of otherwise closed-minded individuals.Towards the end of the novel, it became clear that a new order has taken over with fresh ideas and movements. They began to consider and arrogate importance to different things such as interesting and artistic people. in that respect was an obvious change of attitude to people like the Beauforts. Beauforts unlawful daughter, Fanny, and her marriage with Dallas Archer were not objected by society. In fact they were friendly of her bright personality. Society did not post any obstacle to Newland and Ellen being together but Newland was so stuck in the past that he failed to get it on that time has changed.