Summary Of Henry James And Edith Wharton's The Age Of Innocence

Settling in the same place in the world compels you into involuntarily getting used to the social norms that are expected from you. However, once people touch upon different countries, they observe that etiquette changes from person to person, let alone by crossing the Atlantic. For some people, it could be considered scandalous to not perform according the country’s etiquette and social norms, but there are some who are more open-minded about the idea of social norms. In this essay, I am going to discuss this notion that different authors such as Henry James and Edith Wharton faced by crossing the Atlantic; the different social norms that vary from place to place and the rebellion against having particular social norms, especially when it

I reiterate however that who the guilty party is does not matter, both for James and for Wharton it could be either party that was guilty, but the main notion that they wanted to point out is that there is no such matter of one set of social norms being better than the other and that every one should be free to choose his own. It is reversed only in the fact that it takes place in Europe, not because Europe is considered as particularly

Women were expected to be innocent, reliant on men, intuitive and religious which were the roots of the social conventions and norms which administered women’s lives. However, even though Ellen was dimmed as not fitting in the high society of New York, she continues with her life rather tranquilly and self-assuredly while she has only a few rare moments of doubting the path she takes. It is not because of the norms that she flees to Paris, but out of respect for Archer. In chapter twelve, she discusses and speaks quite confidently with Archer about her intention to secure a divorce. You can clearly reflect on the stark contrast between May, who is more submissive and traditional, to Ellen, who fights confidently as a woman. With regards to her freedom she asks Archer confidently ‘But my freedom—is that nothing?’ Rather than being afraid of the old-fashioned way the New York society think about Ellen’s acts as Newland accuses them, she does everything out of respect towards