The Role of Social Conventions and Class in Shaping the Characters’ Lives in Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence
The Role of Social Conventions and Class in Shaping the Characters’ Lives in Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence
In Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, social conventions and class play a critical role in shaping the characters’ actions, choices, and ultimately their lives. The novel is set in New York’s Gilded Age, a period when rigid social structures defined people’s behavior, relationships, and career trajectories. Through her portrayal of Newland Archer, May Welland, and Ellen Olenska, Wharton presents a biting commentary on the constraints placed on individuals by social expectations.
In Wharton’s world, New York’s high society is governed by a strict code of conduct that dictates the proper behavior for men and women, especially regarding marriage, family, and public image. Newland, the protagonist, is torn between his passion for Ellen Olenska, an independent and free-spirited woman, and his duty to his fiancée May Welland, who epitomizes the virtues of society’s expectations. His internal struggle underscores the conflict between personal desire and societal obligation, which is exacerbated by class distinctions. May, though young and innocent, is a product of her class, and her passive acceptance of her role within the society’s rigid framework contrasts sharply with Ellen’s rebellious nature.
Class is a pervasive theme, illustrated through the Wellands’ wealth and status, which grant them power and influence, and through Ellen’s outsider status. Ellen’s return to New York and her refusal to conform to societal expectations make her a target for judgment, reflecting how class and social reputation impact personal freedom. The novel reveals that true emotional fulfillment is often sacrificed at the altar of social acceptance, making it a poignant critique of the class system.
Ultimately, Wharton’s novel reflects the ways in which social conventions and class constraints trap individuals within predefined roles, limiting their personal freedom and happiness. The tragedy of Newland Archer’s life is that, despite his desires, he cannot escape the societal structure that dictates his actions, leaving him to ponder what might have been.
