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

Edith Whartons The historic period of Innocence (1920) is a detailed depiction of social conventions and decorousness of the utmost fellowship of tonic York during the deeply 19th century. One of the central themes of the everyplaceb mature is the struggle of an several(prenominal) inside a rigid social club. Order, loyalty, tradition and indebtedness are the values upheld by the society where Newland archer grew up. He is a lawyer, eng seasond to be married to whitethorn Welland, raised to be a completed wife and bewilder jibe to societys standards (Wharton, 1998).These same rules and standards dictate that she pretends to be ignorant of her groom-to-bes feelings toward Countess Ellen Olenska. For a long time, Newland and Ellen had to innocent(p) their desires and feelings in order of battle to entertain order in society. corporation in The Age of Innocence shapes and directs the life of an individual, sacrificing what they truly urgency and truly believe in. Societys forms and conventions decide how one should think and behave. Societys primary agent of its laws is the family, specifically the old money families belonging to the high society New York.These are the families with patrimonial wealth which separates them from the lower class. Their wealth is an serious 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 immenseness of order is seen in family. It is the foremost duty of the individual to promote and protect the unity of his/her blood and marital relationships.The family disapproved Ellens last to divorce his preserve in spite of his creation abusive and cruel to her. For them, it was just raw(a) to endure little sacrifices to take none 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 grownup reputation and he cherished cypher to do with her. However, the family expected him to help father Ellen out in the public so he was forced to enter the Mingotts opera box and introduce himself.And of configuration eventually, they hide their true feelings in tending 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 whatever aspect of his/her life. May informed Newland of her passion by let him guess that she cares for him as this is the only bureau a love of a new unmarried woman should be declared. She must conform to societys perfect portrayal of a young initiatory ? familiarly innocent and ignorant on matters about affairs and passion (Barker-Benfield, 2000).She was fist seen with white lilies in the valley, unaware of sexual implications of the scenes in the play she is watching. Later in the book, it w as established that from the start she was aware of Newlands feelings towards the Countess simply she chose to remain silent and come with the code of ignorance. Despite this knowledge, her wedding at Grace Church must insure to maintain the order on how things should be through with(p). Newland has his own list of socially mandated duties according to Lawrence Lefferts and Sillerton Jackson, clever on manners and expert on family matters, respectively.Order in society is well-kept through these rarefied practices to continue the go on existence of the civilization. The social code is rigorously enforced by society which compromises the person-to-person freedom of the individual (Charles, Davies & Harris, 2008). Sometimes a family member has to let go of his/her face-to-face wants and follow the decision of the family to avoid sparing and political sanctions. Newland and Ellen could non pursue from each one other in order to maintain their social integrity. Even a unprob lematic walk unneurotic basisnot 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(prenominal) man Im sick of the hypocrisy that would accept 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 disco very(prenominal) of which he was too irritated to measure the fearful consequences. (Wharton, Book One, Chapter 5, p. 35) He con demned the double-standard prevalent in the society where a man can seek sexual pleasures outside a failed marriage but the woman cannot.He may have progressive 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 scorn but still accepted in the society. Hypocrisy is common and rampant in Old New York high society. Families ensue balls and gatherings hosted by the same person they patronage for being so common who they would lief exile following the collapse of his business. Lawrence Lefferts claims to be an expert in Christian virtues part snubbing Ellen for being a divorcee.Newland is aware that if he leaves May for Ellen, societys discernment will pour for May. She told Ellen of her pregnancy despite being unsure of it to drive her external 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 they were not roaring in blending and harmonizing with the old societys tradition, they opened new possibilities of other 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 attribute importance to different things such as provoke and artistic people. There was an obvious limiting of attitude to people like the Beauforts. Beauforts illegitimate daughter, Fanny, and her marriage with Dallas Archer were not objected by society. In fact they were worshipful of her bright personality. Society did not bureau any obstacle to Newland and Ellen being together but Newland was so stuck in the noncurrent that he failed to recognize that time has changed.