The Age Of Innocence By Edith Wharton

The title of this book is The Age Of Innocence, the author's name is Edith Wharton, and she is American writer.

This book was originally published in 1920.

This book took place during the 1870s in New York. The setting of this book affects the plot because, the book is in a high class society of new york, which means everything has been set in place for them by their parents, grandparents etc. They are taught how to behave properly and if they don't it's considered taboo. Because this is the setting it heightens the emotion behind the scandalous events that happen in the plot.

After Newland Archers and May Welland's engagement May's cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska comes in town after divorcing her husband for cheating or her. Newland quickly

May Welland is married to Newland Archer, she is considered ¨the perfect wife¨ in their society. She was raised in a traditional sense and just wants to live in a conventional style. Countess Ellen Olenska is not traditional at all. she has a different outlook on life than most people that live in New york. Unlike many other people Ellen thinks in an exotic way, she has a very broad perspective on life and can even be considered as a realist. Mrs.Manson Mingott is the grandmother to May and Ellen. Much like Ellen, Mingott is a realist, she is very emotionally intelligent, and understands if something is socially unacceptable, but at the same time wants to maintain her social

May receives white flowers form newland to represent her innocence, she is pure and remains abstinent. Ellens yellow flowers represents her boldness and life experience. The author uses this symbol to contrast the two characters. Another symbol is the abandoned cottage that they meet in, it's a secret place they can go without getting caught. It also represents an escape from society for both of them, the abandoned cottage is a place where they can go and not be judged by society for their actions, they can be themselves without any pressure to keep up upper class behavior.

An important writing technique that Wharton uses is point of view. The author uses third person and third person limited throughout the book to show how the historical time period effects the plot, and to show all the emotion behind the character's actions.

“I want - I want somehow to get away with you into a world where words like that -categories like that- won't exist. Where we shall be simply two human beings who love each other, who are the whole of life to each other; and nothing else on earth will matter.” this quote is important because it shows how much of a negative impact their society has on