One of the main recurring themes in Edith Wharton's work, The Age of Innocence, is the continuing struggle between the individual and society . This is a question that Wharton was very concerned about in the novel, and it is reflected in the book's characters. The story is a window into the times in which she wrote, and we can see that the situations and dilemmas faced by the main characters are largely centered around this conflict. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Any attempt to understand the novel's conflicts in the context of the broader society in which they arise must begin with a consideration of the main characters. and their motivations. May Welland Archer is a product of the social code and hierarchy in which she grew up. We can see that her choices and actions are often based on what she thinks others will think. Throughout the novel, she gradually transforms into a near-mirror image of her mother. She increasingly controls those around her, especially Newland. Her cunning regarding the pregnancy ruse speaks to the journey taken to achieve and maintain control. Ultimately, although she cannot offer Newland what he is looking for in a relationship, she ironically represents what can be considered the prototypical ideal of the model wife of the time. In a manner similar to May, Newland also seeks to stay in tune with the social graces and expectations of the times. Despite the fact that he tends to seek out other women, Countess Ellen Olenska truly represents a dream that can never come true, because Newland will never pursue an action contrary to social conventions. Even though he feels the heavy burden of duty and responsibility that society places on him, he cannot seem to shake this weight off his shoulders. We also don't know if he actually wants to do it. This is something May uses to her advantage to manage and control Newland. She knows deep down that she can use Newland's personal need to follow social expectations to strengthen her hold on her life and their relationship. Although he feels the desire for another life or at least to fulfill his desires with Ellen, his compelling need to stick to his duty and social responsibility prevents it from being a viable option. Countess Ellen Olenska represents everything that is different from structured and stratified society. in which the other characters find themselves. She comes from Europe and brings with her an unconventional style that symbolizes a kind of freedom that seems quite elusive to many other characters like Newland Archer. Unlike many characters, she seems to act with much less deference to what others may consider correct or acceptable behavior. We can see the conflict between what the characters want and what they have to settle for in response to society's expectations. Newland Archer desperately wants to be with Ellen, but society simply does not tolerate such an eventuality. When Newland finally decides to travel after Ellen to Europe, May reveals that she is pregnant, quashing her dreams and thus sealing her fate. Ultimately, he fails to muster the will necessary to challenge the mores of his society. Likewise, Ellen also harbors her own wishes and desires. She wants to divorce her husband and be free to live her own life, but Archer persuades her that she will harm her family and be looked down upon by society. Her family even calls on her to return to the husband who mistreated herin order to meet societal expectations and protect appearances. They even cut off her allowance in an attempt to control her when she refuses to give in to their demands. After doing her best to rebuild herself to fit into New York society, she realizes that this is not the case and returns to Europe. Yet, she does not return to her husband as one might expect. His final loss is realized when May tells him that she is pregnant with a child. Societal expectations dictate that a man absolutely must stay with his pregnant wife. It is completely unacceptable for him to do anything else in light of the prevailing societal pressures of the moment, and May and Ellen know it. Ironically, it is Newland who emphasizes to Ellen the importance of denying his own desires and wishes to be with her. him for other considerations such as societal expectations and the impact on those around them. It's worth noting that Newland doesn't believe this is necessarily the best solution, but it may actually be the only option available to them. She clearly places great weight on his words because she feels it is a nobler and more selfless way of life than what she has known in the past. Newland believes that "it was less difficult to conform to tradition and treat May exactly as all his friends treated their wives than to try to put into practice the theories with which his unfettered celibacy had lingered... Whatever 'it happens, he knew she would always be. loyal, gallant and without resentment; and this committed him to the practice of the same virtues” (Wharton, p.196-97). As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that love can never exist. Ellen states that she knows that they really have nowhere to go to be happy together because they will never be able to truly break free from the constraints of society. "'I want to - I want to somehow get by with you in a world where words like that - categories like that - don't exist. Where it's just the two of us human beings who love each other, who are each other's whole lives; and nothing else on earth will matter.'" She let out a deep sigh that ended with another laugh. “Oh, my dear, where is this country? Have you ever been there? . . . I know so many who have tried to find it (Wharton, 230). Another theme that recurs throughout the novel and is closely related to the notion of conflict between society and the individual is that of appearance versus reality. Many characters in the novel are actually more concerned with what people think of them and how they are perceived by others than with experiencing personal happiness. Ellen sees through much of this facade during her visit to New York. She sees the inherent hypocrisy in the people around her and even informs Newland that people are refusing or unwilling to acknowledge it. This conflict or disparity between how things appear and how they actually are permeates the novel. This is seen in the way women are expected to neglect their husband's affairs (provided they remain discreet for the sake of appearance), and in the fact that the entire company goes to the Beaufort ball despite the fact let's talk about him. pain in his back. This is also seen in the elaborate farewells given to Ellen, despite the undercurrent of hostility just beneath the surface. This farewell party is also a societal expectation which is more about appearances than reality. “There were certain things that had to be done, and if they were done, done generously and thoroughly; and one of them in the old New York code was the tribal gathering around a female relative who was about to,.