One of the main recurring themes in Edith Wharton's work The Age of Innocence is the constant struggle between the individual and society. This is an issue that Wharton was quite concerned with in the novel and is reflected in the characters in the book. The story is a window into the era in which he was writing and we can see that the situations and dilemmas faced by the main characters are largely centered around this conflict. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayAny attempt to understand the conflicts in the novel in the context of the larger society in which they emerge must begin with a consideration of the main characters and their motivations. May Welland Archer is a product of the social code and hierarchy in which she grew up. We can see that his choices and actions are often based on what he thinks other people will think. Over the course of the novel she gradually transforms into an almost mirror image of her mother. She becomes increasingly controlling of those around her, especially Newland. Her deception regarding the pregnancy ruse speaks to how far she has come in achieving and maintaining control. Ultimately, although she cannot offer Newland what he seeks in a relationship, she ironically represents what can be said to be the prototypical ideal of the model wife of the time. Similar to May, Newland also tries to keep in line with social graces and expectations of the time. Despite his inclination to seek other women, Countess Ellen Olenska truly represents a dream that can never be realized, since Newland will never complete an action contrary to social conventions. Even though he feels the heavy burden of duty and responsibility that society brings upon him, he cannot shed this burden from his shoulders. It's not even clear if he really wants it. This is something May uses to his advantage in tackling and controlling Newland. She knows deep down that she can exploit Newland's personal need to keep within social expectations to increase her control over his life and their relationship. Although he feels the desire for another life or at least to fulfill his desires with Ellen, his overriding need to maintain his duty and social responsibility prevents this from being a viable option. Countess Ellen Olenska represents everything that is different from structured and stratified society. where the other characters find themselves. He comes from Europe and brings with him an unconventional style that symbolizes a kind of freedom that seems rather elusive to many other characters like Newland Archer. Unlike many characters, he appears to act with far less deference to what others may consider correct or acceptable behavior. We can see the conflict between what the characters want and what they have to settle for in response to society's expectations. Newland Archer desperately wants to be with Ellen, but society simply won't accept that. When Newland finally decides to follow Ellen to Europe, May reveals that she is pregnant, quashing his dreams and effectively sealing his fate. Ultimately, he fails to muster the will to challenge the mores of his society. Likewise, Ellen also has desires and desires of her own. She wants to divorce her husband and be free to live her own life, but Archer convinces her that she will hurt her family and be despised by society. Her family even urges her to return to her husband who treated her badly to uphold society's expectations and protect appearances. They even cut her check in an attempt tokeep her in check when she refuses to give in to their demands. After trying her best to rebuild herself to fit into New York society, she realizes that this is not the case and returns to Europe. Yet they do not return to her husband as one might expect. Her final loss is realized when May announces that she is pregnant with a child. Society's expectations dictate that a man absolutely must be with his pregnant wife. It is completely unacceptable for him to do anything less in light of the prevailing social pressures of the day, and both May and Ellen know this. Ironically, it is Newland who stresses to Ellen the importance of denying her own wishes and desires to be with him for other considerations such as society's expectations and the impact on those around them. It should be noted that Newland doesn't believe this is necessarily the best course of action, but perhaps it really is the only option available to them. She clearly gives a lot of weight to his words as she feels it is a nobler and more selfless way of living than she has experienced in the past. Newland believes that "it was less difficult to conform to tradition and treat May exactly as all his friends treated their wives, than to try to put into practice the theories with which his wild bachelor had toyed... Whatever happened, he knew that she would always be loyal, gallant and without resentment; and this committed him to the practice of the same virtues” (Wharton, p.196-97). . Ellen states that she knows that there is really nowhere to go to be happy together since they will never be able to truly free themselves from the constraints of society. "'I want - I want to somehow take you away to a world where words like these - categories like that - will not exist. Where we will simply be two human beings who love each other, who are all of life to each other; and nothing else on earth will matter.'" He took a deep breath that ended in another laugh. “Oh, my dear, where is that country?” Have you ever been there? . I know so many who have tried to find it (Wharton, 230) Another theme that runs throughout the novel and is closely linked to the notion of conflict between society and the individual. Many of the characters in the novel are actually more interested in what people think of them and how they are perceived by others than in experiencing personal happiness. Ellen sees through much of this facade during her visit to New York. She sees the hypocrisy inherent in the people around her and even informs Newland that people simply refuse or do not want to recognize it. This conflict or disparity between how things appear and how they are in reality permeates the novel he expects women to neglect their husband's affairs (as long as they are discreet for the sake of appearance), and by the fact that all of society attends the Beaufort Ball despite the fact that he is talked about. bad behind him. This is also seen in the elaborate greeting given to Ellen, despite the undercurrent of hostility just beneath the surface. This farewell party is also a social expectation that has more to do with appearances than reality. "There were some things that had to be done, and if done, done well and carefully; and one of them, in the old New York code, was the tribal gathering around a relative who was about to be eliminated from the tribe" (Wharton p. 285) Keep in mind: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay It is significant that the characters have a sort of love/hate relationship with the structured society in which they live. In fact, the same,.