CHARACTER ANALYSIS Newland Archer As the protagonist of the novel‚ Newland Archer’s point of view governs its narration. He is said to be a dilettante at the beginning of the novel‚ someone who amateurishly enjoys the pleasurable and delicate sensations that are the luxury of the members of the ruling class. He is respectable and seems to have bought into all the baggage that is a part of maintaining respectability. But his character is set against those of his peers and his family members in
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The Death Of Innocence Characterization is a description of qualities or peculiarities. In “The Age of Innocence” Edith Wharton uses characterization over plot to emphasize the ways in which a death of innocence is taking place in society. Throughout the novel‚ various characters emerge who challenge the strict order of society and while they face a great deal of opposition‚ they often are far more complex and‚ more interesting than the characters who are a part of the old order
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fantasies The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton is a book that gave the word "love" many other meanings‚ such as impossible‚ meaningless and incomplete. There were many unbearable obstacles that Countess Ellen Olenska‚ one of the main characters‚ had to face because of love. She was treated badly by many people and always longed for love but never obtained it. With everyone cursing her‚ betraying her and hurting her‚ there was one person who was always there for her. Newland Archer wasn’t only sympathetic
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REZA Fariha 24/10/12 The Age of Innocence (1920)‚ Edith WHARTON (p. 41) The characters * In this excerpt‚ the first character is Mr. Newland Archer. He is married to Mrs. May Welland because on line 43‚ the narrator calls her by ‘his wife’. He seems to lead a well-off life since he gave to his wife ‘a small highly-varnished Verboeckhoven “Study of Sheep” ‘ (l. 13)‚ which must be quite expensive. Besides‚ it should also have signified that they are a loving couple. Only I can observe that their
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said to have romantic good looks Similar to: Newland Archer Actress’ description: She wore a grey cashmere dress which was simple and a narrow black velvet ribbon. Similar to: May Welland The scene in the play which Newland always goes to watch is significant as it symbolises the parting of Newland from Ellen. It shows us how Newland Archer perceives the occurrences between Ellen and him till then. It also gives us a sense of how Archer feels about the ‘leave-taking’ from Ellen as he
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Irony of The Age of Innocence Title In the aftermath of the First World War‚ Edith Wharton wrote the timeless novel The Age of Innocence‚ serving as a flashback to the period in which Wharton herself was raised. The Age of Innocence story takes place in upper-class New York society during the 1870s and highlights the distinctive social codes of the aristocratic class. Choosing the title The Age of Innocence to represent Wharton’s story is highly ironic due to the sinister characters who are able
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is the character is chose to analyze. She fulfills Newland’s longing for an emotional fantasy life. Her words‚ her unconventional taste in clothing and interior decorating‚ and her attitudes symbolize the exotic to traditional Newland. She makes him question his narrow existence and brings out his protective instincts. Where May is ice‚ Ellen is fire. Ellen’s elegance and style would be at home in Europe‚ but seem passionate in New York City. Emotionally‚ she is the opposite of May Archer. Often
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Chapters 10–12 Summary The next day‚ while walking with May in the Park‚ Archer tries to persuade May to shorten their engagement. As he listens to her protests‚ he thinks to himself that she is merely repeating what has always been told to her; that she has not begun to think and act for herself. He suggests that they elope‚ an idea that to May can only seem ridiculously funny. Archer begins to suspect that May will never be able to think for herself‚ that she has been so thoroughly conditioned
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Metaphor Analysis Performance The novel opens at the opera‚ aptly introducing the recurring metaphor of performance‚ or keeping up an appearance of correct and moral behavior‚ whatever the reality might be. Julius Beaufort is an example of someone who manages to do this until the end of the novel‚ when he is unmasked and ostracized. Correct dress and customs become the props that hold the performance together. When Beaufort is trying to fool people into thinking that he is being financially
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The Age of Innocence‚ Edith Wharton uses the minor character Ned Winsett‚ to contrast with the protagonist‚ Newland Archer. Newland Archer is a young lawyer from a rich New York family‚ living by conventions and sticking to the social order‚ on the other side of the spectrum is Ned Winsett‚ an unconventional journalist. While Archer is rich‚ Ned is poor; Archer thinks Ned is free to do whatever he pleases and is not held down by a strict social life like him. Ned Winsett serves as a character that
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