The Age of Innocence
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| Author | Edith Wharton |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | D. Appleton and Company |
| Released | July to October 1920 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
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see also Age of innocence (disambiguation)
The Age of Innocence is a 1920 novel by Edith Wharton which won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize. The novel takes place among New York City's upper class during the 1870s, before the advent of electric lights, telephones or motor vehicles; when there was a small cluster of aristocratic "old revolutionary stock" families that ruled New York's social life; when "being things" was better than "doing things" - one's occupation or abilities were secondary to heredity and family connections, when reputation and outward appearances came at the exclusion of everything and everyone else, and when 5th Avenue was so deserted by nightfall that it was possible to follow the comings and goings of society by watching who went to which household. First published in four parts during July to October 1920 in "The Pictorial Review" and then in the same year by D. Appleton and Company in New York and in London.
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[edit] Plot introduction
The plot is a love story, but is also well regarded for its accurate portrayal of how the upper class of America at one time lived, for which it won the Pulitzer (The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington, set in a midwestern town, won a Pulitzer for similar reasons just a few years earlier). Wharton, born in 1862 and aged 58 at the time of publication, herself lived in this rarefied social world while growing up, only to see it change dramatically by the end of WWI, when she looked back and reminisced about a bygone "age of innocence".
[edit] Plot summary
The novel is set in the upper classes of 1870s Old New York. Newland Archer, a lawyer set to enter into a socially safe marriage with the sheltered and beautiful May Welland, must re-consider his choice after the appearance of Countess Ellen Olenska, May's exotic and beautiful 30-year old cousin who has recently returned from a lengthy stay in Europe. Ellen has returned to her New York family because she is trying to separate herself from a bad marriage with a Polish Count in Europe. Newland is intrigued by the worldly Ellen who seems to transcend the rules of New York's society, and becomes more and more disillusioned with the prospect of a loveless marriage to May, the perfect product of Old New York society. When Ellen wants to divorce her husband (the Polish Count), this creates a social crisis with Ellen's New York family who are afraid of scandal and disgrace (divorce in that time was not socially acceptable, but living apart was). In order to save his family's reputation, Newland convinces Ellen not to divorce the Count, but in the process realizes how much he cares for her. Afraid he is falling in love with Ellen, he begs May to push up their wedding date, but she refuses at first - he then admits to Ellen that he loves her - then receives a telegram from May agreeing to a more expedient wedding date.
Newland and May are married and Newland tries to forget about Ellen but sees her while he and May are in Newport, Rhode Island. Ellen agrees that she will stay in America if they do not consummate their relationship. Newland soon discovers that Ellen’s husband wished she would return to him and she has refused. Ellen comes to New York to care for her sick grandmother and agrees to consummate her relationship with Newland. Suddenly, she decides to return to Europe inexplicably, and Newland makes up his mind to leave May and follow Ellen to Europe. May and Newland throw a farewell party for her and May tells Newland that she is pregnant and told Ellen so a few days before (the reason for Ellen's decision to leave for Europe). Newland gives up the one thing he loves most, Ellen, for the sake of his children, and remains in the loveless marriage to May and does not follow Ellen. Twenty-five years pass and Newland and his son are in Paris after May’s death. They arrange to meet Ellen at her Paris apartment. Newland sends his son up to meet her while he awaits outside watching the apartment balcony. Being "old fashioned", Newland looks for a sign: Ellen does not appear at the balcony, instead a man-servant closes the window blinds. Newland walks home.
[edit] Characters in "The Age of Innocence"
- Newland Archer – a New York lawyer
- May Welland – Newland's intended
- Ellen Olenska – Countess returned from Europe and May's cousin
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
A 1924 silent film version starred Beverly Bayne and Elliott Dexter.
Margaret Ayer Barnes adapted the novel into a play, first produced on Broadway in 1928, the basis for a 1934 motion picture that starred Irene Dunne and John Boles.
A 1993 motion-picture adaptation was directed by Martin Scorsese and starred Michelle Pfeiffer, Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Richard E. Grant and Miriam Margolyes. Ryder won a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of May Welland Archer, and the film won an Oscar for costume design. Critics consider it one of Scorsese's best works, but it did not receive many Oscar nominations and failed to appeal to Scorsese's usual audience, who seemed to prefer his crime movies and such films as Raging Bull.
- Further information: The Age of Innocence (film)
