Edith Wharton's The Age Of Innocence

The novel The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton takes place during the Gilded Age, and tells the story of Newland Archer, who struggles to decide between two women in his life. The Gilded Age refers to a time with great technological advances and social change (ahist textbook pg 246). During this time, there was an “unprecedented concentration of wealth in the hands of a few.” (ahist 253). Several of these bankers and financiers lived in New York City, where The Age of Innocence takes place. As suggested by the title, the topic of innocence is discussed throughout the novel, affecting several aspects of the story. Innocence often refers to purity, and the lack of experience or knowledge of immoral topics. Innocence is important in the novel

At times, the narrative voice in The Age of Innocence is a third person, limited omniscient, resulting in the objective interpretation of the time and people brought to the audience by Newland Archer. That means the readers mainly hear Archer’s perspective, instead of what may be a more realistic description of an objective point of view. Throughout the novel, Archer continuously complains about how May is too innocent, and highlights every flaw about her. One of Archer’s first remarks about May illustrates his disappointment: “he said to himself with a secret dismay that he would always know the thoughts behind [her clear brow], that never, in all the years to come, would she surprise him by an unexpected mood, by a new idea, a weakness, a cruelty or an emotion (Quote PS).” These inner thoughts create a terrible image of a monotonous life, possibly making the readers feel sorry for Archer. Archer seems like a good man who doesn’t want May to be stuck with “the innocence that seals the mind against imagination and the heart against experience!” (Quote PS). However, Archer’s comments on May’s innocence continue throughout the novel, despite changes in May’s actions. Even when May stands up for herself in Augusta, Archer remarks that “the blood that ran so close to her fair skin might have been preserving fluid rather than a ravaging element; yet her look of indestructible youthfulness made her seem … only primitive and pure.” (Quote P161 PS). At this point Archer’s ignorance becomes prevalent. Innocence of knowledge is very similar to ignorance, as they both refer to unawareness, however ignorance is the continuation of such, and a “refusal of information.” (S3 145 Quote) The ignorance makes Archer makes more obnoxious and annoying for the readers. His pity for May