The story is set in the 1870s, in upperclass, gildedage new york city. The appearance of mays cousin, the controversial countess olenska, who isgasp. Newland is consumed by his unconsummated love affair with his wifes cousin, the scandalous foreign countess ellen olenska the novel begins in the early 1870s, on the day of. The main theme of edith whartons the age of innocence is the conflict between the desire of the individual and the conservatism of the group. Newland archer, an eligible young man of the establishment is about to announce his engagement to may welland. The age of innocence study guide from litcharts the.
Though there was already talk of the erection, in remote metropolitan distances above the forties, of a new opera house which should compete in costliness and splendour with those of the great european capitals, the world of fashion was still content to. The novel went on to win that years pulitzer prize, the first awarded to a woman for fiction, in. Edith wharton 1862 1937 was an american writer, and winner of the pulitzer prize in 1921, the first woman to do so. Both are works about the clan, the tribe about being one of our kind. A concise biography of edith wharton plus historical and literary context for the age of innocence. This is the kind of insight that makes the age of innocence so indispensable.
The age of innocence, edith whartons 12th novel, which takes its title from a 1785 painting of a little girl by joshua reynolds, was first serialised in four parts during 1920 in the pictorial. Promiscuity was excusable for men, but for women sexuality equaled. With this sumptuous romance, he meticulously adapted the work of another great new york artist, edith wharton, bringing to life her tragic novel set in the cloistered world of gilded age manhattan. All seems well, until newland meets mays cousin countess ellen olesnka, who has left europe to get. The age of innocence wikisource, the free online library. In 1921, the age of innocence became the first novel written by a woman to win a pulitzer. Much of the 1920 book is centered on mary joness remarkable row of stone houses on fifth avenue, from 57th to 58th street. Edith wharton biography and list of works edith wharton books.
Like shakespeares play, whartons 1923 novel is about two lovers, but thats only on the surface. The age of innocence modern library 100 best novels. It won the 1921 pulitzer prize for fiction, making it the first novel written by a woman to win the pulitzer prize for fiction, and thus wharton the first woman to win the prize. The work presents a picture of upperclass new york society in the late 19th century. Newland archer is about to announce his engagement to may welland, when mays cousin, countess olenska, is introduced into their circle. The age of innocence 1993 the criterion collection. The age of innocence, edith wharton the age of innocence is a 1920 novel by the american author edith wharton. One of edith whartons most famous novelsthe first by a woman to win the pulitzer prizeexquisitely details a tragic struggle between. In 1921 the age of innocence achieved a double distinction it won the pulitzer prize and it was the first time this prestigious award had been won by a woman author. But almost absent from whartons writings is marys sister rebecca. The age of innocence by edith wharton books the guardian. A tale of nineteenthcentury new york high society in which a young lawyer falls in love with a woman separated from her husband, while he is engaged to the womans cousin. But archers life has no place for passion, and he finds himself drawn into a bitter conflict between love and duty.
Edith wharton biography born edith newbold jones, to a wealthy new york family, edith combined her insights into the privileged classes with her natural wit to write books and short fiction notable for their humor and incisiveness. Newland archer is a lawyer that lives in the late eighteen hundreds in new york. Continue your study of the age of innocence with these useful links. As young newland archer, lawyer and man about town, gazes up at his soontobe fiance, may welland, in the mingottfamily opera box, he is disconcerted by the arrival of mays cousin, the countess ellen olenska, who has left her profligate but wealthy polish husband. Read the age of innocence by author edith wharton, free, online. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points, if you have not read the book. The age of innocence cliffsnotes study guides book. The age of innocence, for which wharton won the pulitzer prize in 1920, is one of her most memorable novels.
The body is a novella by american writer stephen king, originally published in his 1982 collection different seasons and adapted into the 1986 film stand by me. When i think of this book, i see fresh flowers on a dark table in the foyer, glowing golden in the slow afternoon sun. Real estate of edith whartons the age of innocence. However, when mays cousin comes to town and tries to. Book summary it is a january evening in 1870s new york city and the fashionable are attending the opera. Irony is a literary device used by edith wharton all over the novel the age of.
The project gutenberg etext of the age of innocence, by. The age of innocence is a novel set primarily in new yorks elite classes in the 1870s. Free the age of innocence notes, plot and chapter summaries, themes, and more. The age of innocence multiple choice test questions. The age of innocence the novel opens in 1870s new york on a january evening. The age of innocence describes a time when there was a double standard for men and women when it came to sexual behavior. The age of innocence is a 1920 novel by american author edith wharton. The age of innocence is a pulitzer prizewinning novel by edith wharton that was first published in 1920. New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and. But when mays beautiful cousin countess ellen olenska, who is estranged from her brutish husband, arrives in town, newland begins to question the meaning of passion and love as he desperately pursues a relationship with ellen, even though she has been made a social.
Real estate of edith whartons the age of innocence the. While very little transpires through the course of the novel, it is for a good reason. The age of innocence is a brutal and elegiac novel with an ending that hurts, but pleasantly so, like a pressed bruise. The novel takes place among new york citys upper class during the 1870s, before the advent of electric lights, telephones or motor vehicles. The age of innocence is thematically connected to the novella ethan frome, one of whartons most famous works. Wealthy lawyer newland archer is engaged to sweet socialite may welland in 1870s new york. The age of innocence, by comparison, is a much more detailed story, one that. The characters live in constant fear of being excluded or shunned or, worse, pitied.
In edith whartons twelfth novel the age of innocence, we meet archer. Protection of a family and ones image has changed so much yet still remains the same in some aspects. The story is set in the 1870s, in upperclass, gilded age new york city. Librivox recording of the age of innocence, by edith wharton. It won the 1921 pulitzer prize for fiction, making wharton the first woman to win the prize. The story is presented as a kind of anthropological study of this society through references to the families and their activities as tribal. Both works deal with unhappy marriages and have male protagonists who fall in love with their wives cousins. Winner of the 1921 pulitzer prize, the age of innocence is. A few months ago i read edith whartons novella, summer. Dec 23, 2009 whartons pulitzerprize winning age of innocence depicts all the hypocrisy and convention, duty and criticism, propriety and snobbery of the new york elite as it tells the story of protagonist newland archer who is the product of this very society and his agonies over the boundaries of its imposed limits.
The age of innocence focuses on the wealthiest and the most powerful in new york society in the 1870s, but we cant help but feel, well, sorry for them. Get 1 pages of notes and analysis on the book the age of innocence from. When newland archer opened the door at the back of the club box the curtain had just gone up on the garden scene. On a january evening of the early seventies, christine nilsson was singing in faust at the academy of music in new york. No filmmaker captures the grandeur and energy of new york like martin scorsese. The main character, newland archer, is a wealthy lawyer who is engaged to may welland. Her portrayals of upperclass new yorkers were unrivaled. The age of innocence tells the story of newland archer daniel daylewis, whose engagement to an innocent socialite. Archer notices a strange woman in mays opera box and realizes that its her cousin, ellen olenska.
There was no reason why the young man should not have come earlier, for he had dined at seven, alone with his mother and sister, and had lingered afterward over a cigar in the gothic library with glazed blackwalnut bookcases and finialtopped chairs which was the only room in the. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides. Mar 02, 2020 the age of innocence is a 1920 novel by edith wharton which won the 1921 pulitzer prize. Edith wharton 18621937 wrote carefully structured fiction that probed the psychological and social elements guiding the behavior of her characters.
Edith wharton booklist edith wharton message board. This comprehensive lesson plan includes 30 daily lessons, 180 multiple choice questions, 20 essay questions, 20 fun activities, and more everything you need to teach the age of innocence. The age of innocence is author edith whartons 12th novel. The book has inspired many film, television and theatrical adaptations. Table of contents message board downloadableprintable version. See plot diagram summary book 1 set in victorianera new york, the age of innocence tells the story of newland archer, a young man who inwardly bristles at the respectability and duty that his social position demands. Both works are focused on something broader, something social rather than personal. Her sorrowful eyes and her air of unapproachability attract the sensitive newland and, almost against their will, a passionate bond develops. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.
At the heart of the story are three people whose entangled lives are deeply affected by the tyrannical and rigid requirements of high society. Though the committee had initially agreed to give the. This quiz is on edith whartons book the age of innocence. Edith whartons the age of innocence earned her the first pulitzer prize for literature awarded to a woman. The age of innocence modern library 100 best novels wharton, edith. In an era before the advent of electric lights, telephones or motor vehicles, there exists a small cluster of aristocratic old revolutionary stock families that rule new yorks social life. I was frustrated by its relatively short length, and thought that the characters. Newland archer, a restrained young attorney, is engaged to the lovely may welland but falls in. Newland archer, favored son of old new york, is on the brink of announcing his engagement to lovely may welland, favored daughter of a family much like his own, when the countess ellen olenska, mays cousin, returns unexpectedly to new york. Just that afternoon, may welland has agreed to marry him. Jan 05, 2014 much of the 1920 book is centered on mary joness remarkable row of stone houses on fifth avenue, from 57th to 58th street.
In edith whartons twelfth novel the age of innocence, we meet archer newland, a young lawyer living in new york in the 1870s, who has been looking forward to his marriage to the naive and lovely may welland, a society beauty whose sheltered upbringing and training has turned her into a young woman destined to become the perfect wife and mother. Get ready to write your essay on the age of innocence. All of new yorks high society is gathered for a production of gounods opera faust, including newland archer, recently engaged to pretty may welland. Published in 1920 but set in 1870s new york, the novel explores the labyrinth of high. The age of innocence themesmoodmajor theme book summary by. The age of innocence kindle edition by wharton, edith. The story is set in upperclass new york city in the 1870s. Though the age of innocence is set, except for its denouement, in the 1870s, its mood reflects edith whartons awareness of the tremendous changes about to alter forever the insular world of old new york. They live in a world where appearance is everything, where society is rigidly structured with certain families on top and everyone else below, and where rules. On the way to countess olenskas house, newland sees beauforts carriage leaving for some dark assignation.
Where can irony be found in the age of innocence by edith wharton. Whartons story of the upper classes of old new york, and newland archers impossible love for the disgraced countess olenska, is a perfectly wrought book about an era when upperclass culture in this country was still a mixture of american and european extracts, and. Jul 28, 2014 the age of innocence, edith whartons 12th novel, which takes its title from a 1785 painting of a little girl by joshua reynolds, was first serialised in four parts during 1920 in the pictorial. Its daring of mays family to bring ellen to the opera, since she has been involved in a scandal. The age of innocence centers on an upperclass couples impending marriage, and the introduction of. Explain the allusions to faust the opera performed at the beginning and, two years later, near. The return of the beautiful countess olenska into the rigidly conventional society of new york sends reverberations throughout the upper reaches of society. Age of innocence literature guide page 2 teachervision. It is amazing how class has changed so much since the time this was written. The age of innocence summary from litcharts the creators of. For all of its emotional heft, when it was first published the age of innocence was marketed as a nostalgic, escapist story.
The age of innocence, novel by edith wharton, published in 1920. So it is with great reluctance that i started edith whartons classic short novel on high society life in new york city at the close of 19th century 1870s. Reading that, i noticed how early in the book i identified with the central character even though her life was so much different from mine her life choices and her perspective on life. The strengths of edith whartons novella the old maid. Wikipedia article, wikidata item the age of innocence is a 1920 novel by edith wharton which won the 1921 pulitzer prize. The novel was written in 1920 and the novellas that pick up, somewhat on the side. The age of innocence describes a time when women were expected to be chaste and pure before marriage, and after marriage, docile wives and devoted mothers. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on edith whartons the age of innocence. Newland is happily engaged to a young woman at first, newland believes that marrying his fiancee may is exactly what he wants for his life. The novel opens in 1870s new york on a january evening. Some changes were made to the plot of the film, including changing the setting year from 1960 to 1959 and the location of castle rock from maine to oregon the story takes place during the summer of 1960 in the fictional town of castle.