A Review of Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence"

A Review of Edith Wharton’s “The Age of Innocence”


The movie “The Age of Innocence” by Edith Wharton, which was directed by Martin Scorsese, portrayed the influence that society had upon people and their morals. The movie was centered around a newly engaged couple Newland Archer (Daniel Day Lewis), his fiancée May Welland (Wynona Ryder) and her cousin Ellen Waleska (Michelle Pfeifer). Archer was a young lawyer in a prominent law firm and was portrayed as a gentleman. May his fiancée was portrayed as a lady who came from a prominent family. The two were from the same social and moral background. Ellen, on the other hand, was different. Ellen was portrayed as independent and newly separated from her husband.

Archer became interested in May’s cousin Ellen as he was asked to persuade Ellen not to divorce her husband as it would cause scandal and tarnish the family name. As Ellen and Archer spent time together they grew very close. The characters were after all human and susceptible to temptation. Archer felt sympathy for Ellen and her circumstances and they fell in love. Ellen was an independent woman and did not abide by society’s rules, whereas Archer lived the rich and proper lifestyle that May could continually provide him with. Archer’s love for Ellen would have never been permitted by society and he realized from Ellen’s persuasion that they could never be a couple as he cared for society’s approval.

The movie showed how society and wealth controlled the lives of the people who lived the rich life. Women were submissive, Ellen was not, but May was. Men were the head of the family and were bound to that family and values. Archer was the head of his family and was bound to the values and morals that society had dictated. The character Ellen brought to the picture a realistic life. Ellen’s life was simple, but seen as odd or disrespectful. Ellen lived alone and went unescorted to social gatherings and took trips alone. During this era this would have been scandalous.

There were scenes of rich food and lavish furnishings and men smoking cigars after fine dinners. There were visits to the Opera with friends and family. Lavish parties and a controlling Aunt of May’s gave a sense of order and rules. The social circle and it circumstances were viewed in the movie as if one were watching the whole movie through a window or reading it from a personal diary.

One could not tell if May was happy in her marriage with Archer. Archer was clearly portrayed as unhappy, but respectful and loving throughout the movie. He raised his children with May and stayed with her until her death from pneumonia. Archer’s love grew for May throughout their lives together and his dedication to her and his family was also shown to the audience.

“The Age of Innocence” which was about the Victorian Age and how its morals and proper behavior was essential in order to maintain one’s own social status. It was the last era to keep women and men in their proper place with society’s rules. Even at the end Archer remained a gentleman as he chose not meet Ellen with his son Tom.




Works Cited

Wharton, Edith “The Age of Innocence”
Director: Scorsese, Martin, Cappa Production 1993