Ellen Olenska And May Welland In The Age Of Innocence

Newland Archer finds himself trapped in a love triangle with Ellen Olenska and May Welland in Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence. Through the entire novel, Archer views May as lacking any real depth, which pushes him to fall in love with Ellen. In the last chapter of the novel set thirty years in the future, Dallas, his son, reveals that Newland had misunderstood May, transforming his entire perception of her. Becoming cognizant of the surprising depth and substance of May, Archer must explore what his relationship with her really meant throughout their entire life together. From the first night at the Opera, May and Archer’s interesting dynamic became clear. On the surface, they exemplify grace and status, while the two share a subtle secret

Sitting at the Opera, Newland and May catch eyes from across the room and he saw that “she had instantly understood his motive.” (pg.11) The gesture, though small, served to effectively communicate information between the two. Similarly, when Ellen arrives in town the Beaufort’s decide to throw a ball the night of the opera. Ellen clearly expresses to May her disinterest for attending the party, but May only says to Newland, “she made up her mind that her dress wasn’t smart enough for a ball.” (pg. 17) However he addresses that “She knows as well as I do…the real reason of her cousin’s staying away.” (pg.17) They never spoke of Ellen’s real reason for staying away, but the couple’s hinted language indicated the real cause. Another instance where their silent language transcends occurs later, in the first few years of their marriage when Archer declares he

(pg.6) Nevertheless, when May does not rise to his standards he discounts her as meaningless. He even goes as far to assimilate his marriage with May to the monstrosity of a marriage between the Count and Olenska. Newland cries out to Ellen when they dine together that she gave him his “first real glimpse of a real life, and at the same moment…asked me to go on with a sham one.” (pg.148) Calling life with May a sham displays Archer’s opinion of how he feels trapped in a fake marriage. He also paints May as a conniving, shallow woman looking to win a game. After their farewell party for the Countess, May explains to Archer that she informed Ellen of her pregnancy right before she decided to travel back to Europe. Newland construes this as a hostile tactic to get rid of Ellen describing May’s “blue eyes wet with victory” showing her succeeding in a game. (pg. 206) Strangely enough, Newland experiences one moment prior to their marriage which portrays May as the woman he had longed to love, but never recognizes those traits in her again. In Florida, she questions Archer flat out asking “is there someone else?” (pg.92) Instead of avoiding the unpleasant and skipping over uncomfortable topics, May finally speaks up and confronts Newland. Regrettably, she does this on behalf of another person