-“But, in the first place, New York was a metropolis, and perfectly aware that in metropolises it was “not the thing” to arrive early at the opera; and what was or was not “the thing” played a part as important in Newland Archer’s New York as the inscrutable totem terrors that had ruled the destinies of his forefathers thousands of years ago” (2)
This quote illustrates the role that society will play throughout the novel. It highlights one of the many aspects that are adored by the upper class, to arrive late at any social gathering. The New York society is ruled by a set of conventions where everyone is evaluated based on what they wear, where they go, and apparently, how early they arrive at a function. As evident by the last few words of the quote, this tradition has been around for many generations and Newland finds comfort and a homely feeling within this culture. Eventually, Archer will come to question these regulations but will never be able to drift away from them as the upcoming generation will be able to.
This quote illustrates the role that society will play throughout the novel. It highlights one of the many aspects that are adored by the upper class, to arrive late at any social gathering. The New York society is ruled by a set of conventions where everyone is evaluated based on what they wear, where they go, and apparently, how early they arrive at a function. As evident by the last few words of the quote, this tradition has been around for many generations and Newland finds comfort and a homely feeling within this culture. Eventually, Archer will come to question these regulations but will never be able to drift away from them as the upcoming generation will be able to.
-“In reality they all lived in a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or even thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs…” (28)
This quote highlights the characteristics of the society Newland and May live in. People are forced to follow a set of rules that are unwritten and unspoken. Secrets are significant in this society because there are few, but everyone pretends to be ignorant and unaware. The fraudulence prevents Ellen's acceptance into society because she is unaware of the “rules” and therefore continues to break them.
This quote highlights the characteristics of the society Newland and May live in. People are forced to follow a set of rules that are unwritten and unspoken. Secrets are significant in this society because there are few, but everyone pretends to be ignorant and unaware. The fraudulence prevents Ellen's acceptance into society because she is unaware of the “rules” and therefore continues to break them.
-“It would presently be his task to take the bandage from this young woman’s eyes, and bid her look forth on the world” (53).
This quote implies the hypocrisy that is present in the New York society. Newland claims to love May because she is an archetype of the perfect woman; she is submissive, unthinking, and unaware. However, Newland decides he must expose May to the real world in order to pull her out of the New York society shell so that he can truly love her for who she is rather than who society has created her to be. Newland fears that May's mind and heart will be empty, that all she will know is society's expectation of her.
This quote implies the hypocrisy that is present in the New York society. Newland claims to love May because she is an archetype of the perfect woman; she is submissive, unthinking, and unaware. However, Newland decides he must expose May to the real world in order to pull her out of the New York society shell so that he can truly love her for who she is rather than who society has created her to be. Newland fears that May's mind and heart will be empty, that all she will know is society's expectation of her.
-“In this view they were sedulously abetted by their mothers, aunts, and other elderly female relatives, who all shared Mrs. Archer’s belief that when ‘such things happened’ it was undoubtedly foolish of the man, but somehow always criminal of the woman” (62)
This quote portrays the double standard that is held between men and women. Reflecting on the fact that women are always victimized as men are allowed to make “foolish” mistakes such as these, Wharton illustrates the subjectivity of women in the upper class society. Men were said to be trapped in the hands of the enchantress, therefore they were definitely not at fault for having an affair before or after marriage. Even after marriage, if the man was to stray, the woman would be condemned as it was her duty to look after him, please him, and make sure to keep his happiness as their top priority. This scene occurs during the discussion of Ellen’s divorce, in which Ellen is condemned and later persuaded to not get a divorce as it would tarnish her image and reputation forever.
This quote portrays the double standard that is held between men and women. Reflecting on the fact that women are always victimized as men are allowed to make “foolish” mistakes such as these, Wharton illustrates the subjectivity of women in the upper class society. Men were said to be trapped in the hands of the enchantress, therefore they were definitely not at fault for having an affair before or after marriage. Even after marriage, if the man was to stray, the woman would be condemned as it was her duty to look after him, please him, and make sure to keep his happiness as their top priority. This scene occurs during the discussion of Ellen’s divorce, in which Ellen is condemned and later persuaded to not get a divorce as it would tarnish her image and reputation forever.
-“All through the night he pursued through those enchanted pages the vision of a woman who had the face of Ellen Olenska…” (90)
This quote illustrates Archer’s overriding obsession with Ellen Olenska. Archer wants to see Ellen in almost everything and he can only imagine Ellen when it comes to faceless female characters in a book. Wharton portrays Archer’s obsession with Ellen as a strong desire to free himself from the restrictions of his society. Ellen represents freedom, lack of social convention, a foreign taste in which Archer has lost himself in, or in fact wants to lose himself in. Due to Ellen, Archer has questioned his society, its rules, its restrictions, and overall its significance. He is enchanted by the freedom that Ellen could and would provide him with, the freedom to speak his mind, the freedom to dress however, the freedom to be him.
This quote illustrates Archer’s overriding obsession with Ellen Olenska. Archer wants to see Ellen in almost everything and he can only imagine Ellen when it comes to faceless female characters in a book. Wharton portrays Archer’s obsession with Ellen as a strong desire to free himself from the restrictions of his society. Ellen represents freedom, lack of social convention, a foreign taste in which Archer has lost himself in, or in fact wants to lose himself in. Due to Ellen, Archer has questioned his society, its rules, its restrictions, and overall its significance. He is enchanted by the freedom that Ellen could and would provide him with, the freedom to speak his mind, the freedom to dress however, the freedom to be him.
-“New York simply meant peace and freedom to me: it was coming home. And I was so happy at being among my own people that every one I met seemed kind and good, and glad to see me…But you knew; you understood; you had felt the world outside tugging at one with all its golden hands—and yet you hated the things it asks of one, you hated happiness bought by disloyalty and cruelty and indifference. That was what I’d never known before—and it’s better than anything I’ve known” (112)
This quote exemplifies irony and Ellen’s unconditional love for Archer. For Ellen, New York society is ironically her peace and freedom. As seen throughout the novel, the society has the characteristics of an oppressive dictator, where everyone is forced to follow a set of unregulated rules, where nobody has the freedom to express themselves. Ellen finds peace in what appears to be the most tensed place, which surprises Archer as he looks up to her for being different and distinguished from the robots of his society. This quote also represents Ellen’s true love for Archer as it is at this moment she is able to fully understand his outlook on life, society, and happiness. He is apparently everything her husband was not as he can provide all the happiness she deserves, fulfill all her wishes, and love her to no limit. Archer is ironically the perfect soulmate for her.
This quote exemplifies irony and Ellen’s unconditional love for Archer. For Ellen, New York society is ironically her peace and freedom. As seen throughout the novel, the society has the characteristics of an oppressive dictator, where everyone is forced to follow a set of unregulated rules, where nobody has the freedom to express themselves. Ellen finds peace in what appears to be the most tensed place, which surprises Archer as he looks up to her for being different and distinguished from the robots of his society. This quote also represents Ellen’s true love for Archer as it is at this moment she is able to fully understand his outlook on life, society, and happiness. He is apparently everything her husband was not as he can provide all the happiness she deserves, fulfill all her wishes, and love her to no limit. Archer is ironically the perfect soulmate for her.
“A contrast indeed to this gay scene of worldly pleasure - but then I have always lived on contrasts! To me the only death is monotony. I have always said to Ellen: Beware of monotony; it’s the mother of all the deadly sins” (134)
Exemplifying the hypocrisy of New York society, Wharton uses this quote to shine light on the fact that the society itself is the prime example of a monotony. Grandma Mingott, who has lived, followed, and adhered to the societal convention and regulations, ironically states that living in monotony is equivalent to death. The reader senses a hint of ignorance mixed with this hypocrisy as Grandma Mingott is bashing her own lifestyle and manner of conduct. This also illustrates how Ellen’s personality came to be. All her life, Ellen was indirectly taught to follow the unconventional and not succumb to the upper class societal rules, making her the vivacious and outgoing woman she appears to be. Because of this attitude, Ellen is not easily accepted into the society and is constantly questioning her demeanor.
Exemplifying the hypocrisy of New York society, Wharton uses this quote to shine light on the fact that the society itself is the prime example of a monotony. Grandma Mingott, who has lived, followed, and adhered to the societal convention and regulations, ironically states that living in monotony is equivalent to death. The reader senses a hint of ignorance mixed with this hypocrisy as Grandma Mingott is bashing her own lifestyle and manner of conduct. This also illustrates how Ellen’s personality came to be. All her life, Ellen was indirectly taught to follow the unconventional and not succumb to the upper class societal rules, making her the vivacious and outgoing woman she appears to be. Because of this attitude, Ellen is not easily accepted into the society and is constantly questioning her demeanor.
-“ ‘But, do you know, they interest me more than the blind conformity to tradition - somebody else’s tradition - that I see among our own friends. It seems stupid to have discovered America only to make it into a copy of another country’” (155)
Wharton criticizes the American upper class society by calling it a complete replica of the old European society. Ironically, Ellen questions the ideals of the American society she had proclaimed to have found peace and freedom in. It is at this point in the novel where Ellen truly learns that this society is no different from the society she was trying to escape from back in Europe. Although throughout the novel, Ellen is constantly rejected due to her unlawful actions regarding her husband, she believes it is because of her attitude and misdemeanor. Ellen eventually learns that she is rejected in this society for the same reasons as she was in the European society. Wharton, through Ellen’s rejection, tries to shine light on the fact that societal convention is practically the same everywhere, no matter if it is in Europe or in America. Although America claims to be a unique nation, separate from Europe in every which way, Wharton highlights the fact that it has a strong desire to be just like the classy and highly respected society of Europe.
Wharton criticizes the American upper class society by calling it a complete replica of the old European society. Ironically, Ellen questions the ideals of the American society she had proclaimed to have found peace and freedom in. It is at this point in the novel where Ellen truly learns that this society is no different from the society she was trying to escape from back in Europe. Although throughout the novel, Ellen is constantly rejected due to her unlawful actions regarding her husband, she believes it is because of her attitude and misdemeanor. Ellen eventually learns that she is rejected in this society for the same reasons as she was in the European society. Wharton, through Ellen’s rejection, tries to shine light on the fact that societal convention is practically the same everywhere, no matter if it is in Europe or in America. Although America claims to be a unique nation, separate from Europe in every which way, Wharton highlights the fact that it has a strong desire to be just like the classy and highly respected society of Europe.