The Age of Innocence Annotated

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Newland Archer, a handsome and well-qualified attorney who was engaged to lovely May Welland, learned that the engagement would be announced at a banquet to welcome Countess Ellen Olenska, his fiancee's cousin. This reception of Ellen was a bold sacrifice on the part of much of Welland's connections, her marrying a Polish who did not do well did not improve her position as well. The sharp, restrictive New York City is of concern. The fact that she was considering divorce made her questionable too, and to top it all off, her bohemian lifestyle did not fit her family's expectations of an unsuccessful married woman.

Archer's engagement was announced until May. At the same party, Archer attracted Ellen a lot, shortly on the excuse that he was making his fiance's cousin feel at home, so he sent her flowers and called her. To him, she looked like a woman of sensitivity, beauty and life promise that was somewhat different from what he had hoped for after his marriage in May. He finds himself defending Ellen when other societies are attacking her divorce. However, he does not think of ruining his involvement in May. But constantly rationales to show that what is left of his group is a great union. When Ellen was often in his mind, cool beauty and the right personality. But May's uninteresting began to suffer in Archer's assessment.

Although the group protected her from all outsiders. But Ellen was often viewed as the only one. Her family monitored her, trying to prevent her from indulging in overly bohemian acts, such as her strange desire to rent a house in a socially unacceptable part. The women of the family also admit that she is a dangerous rival and the ruthless Julius Beaufort, whom everyone knows, the spread of secrets, including his wife, has brought her great attention. Archer found that he hated Beaufort a lot.

Archer convinced himself that he saw too much Ellen, so Asher goes to St. Augustine to visit May, who is resting there with her ruthless mother and father. Although she was warm and ordinary, and she softly refused to flirt with him. But her beauty made him love him again and he begged her to postpone the wedding day. May and her parents refused because they were unable to make timely detailed preparations. Asher returns to New York. There, with the help of Mrs. Manson Mingott, his parents' family achieved his purpose and the wedding day progressed. The news came to him on a telegram sent to Ellen in May, where Ellen reads about him, just as he was trying to improve the closeness of their relationship, Archer left Ellen's house and found there. A similar telegram from May to him told his sister Janey that the wedding would take place within a month.He suddenly realized that he was now protected by Ellen and himself.

A lavish wedding, a follow-on European honeymoon, and May's assumptions about the role of a suitable wife, Asher soon suffers Ash. Realizing that he was even more trapped, his society was aided by his lack of courage, he had prepared him such a smooth ritual for a life that was rigorous and orderly. However, there was enough intelligence and insight into the Archer to make him unhappy with the trap. When he returned to New York, he could still see Ellen. The futility of working as a young attorney in an ancient law firm, his old social life system, and the sweetness of May don't please that part of Asher that sets him apart from the crowd. Other in the family

He offered Ellen to leave together. But Ellen, smart and kind, showed him that this kind of escape would not be a pleasure, and she indicated that they could love each other as long as he was not pressured away. Archer agreed. Motivated by her family, he advised Ellen, as her lawyer and as a relative, not to seek a divorce with the Count ...