Analysis of Social Conflicts in Edith Wharton's 'The Age of Innocence'.

(1)

ii

Maranatha Christian University

ABSTRACT

Dalam penulisan Tugas Akhir ini saya memilih novel karangan Edith

Wharton yang berjudul The Age of Innocence untuk di analisis. Novel ini

menceritakan masyarakat New York kelas atas pada tahun 1870 yang hidup

berdasarkan tradisi dan aturan-aturan lama yang kaku dengan segala kemewahan

yang dimiliki. Namun ternyata banyak sekali ketetapan yang dilakukan demi

menjaga reputasi mereka dan menyebabkan terjadinya berbagai sosial konflik.

Di dalam novel The Age of Innocence ini terdapat tokoh-tokoh utama yang

bernama Newland Archer dan Ellen Olenska. Mereka adalah bagian dari

masyarakat New York kelas atas pada saat itu. Mereka menjadi korban

kemunafikan masyarakat New York yang sangat menjunjung tinggi tradisi dan

aturan-aturan masyarakat lama yang keras dan kaku. Aturan-aturan dan tradisi

tersebut memaksa individu untuk bertindak sesuai dengan ketentuan yang ada dan

mengorbankan kebahagiaan mereka sendiri demi kepentingan masyarakat.

Dari penyelesaian konflik-konflik sosial yang terjadi dalam novel ini, saya

dapat menyimpulkan bahwa individu yang hidup di New York pada zaman Gilded

Age hanya seperti alat untuk menjaga reputasi masyarakat. Setiap individu tidak

(2)

i

APPENDICES

Synopsis of The Age of Innocence

Newland Archer is a wealthy young lawyer who is engaged to May

Welland, the wealthy daughter of the Welland family. Both of them are coming

from New York society that is bound to the old-fashioned custom and tradition.

The old traditions of their society make both men and women become

manipulative and guileful. Archer feels oppressed and bored with his society’s

predictable routine. He thinks that people are supposed to be free to express their

feelings. Unfortunately, he realizes that May’s innocent attitude is based on what

the society expects. That is why Archer is attracted to Ellen Olenska, who is more

ignorant towards the society’s point of view. Ellen is May’s cousin. Her arrival in

New York surely threatens the stability of New York society, because she wants a

divorce which will disgrace her and her family.

Archer tries to persuade Ellen not to get divorced. In order to keep Ellen’s

family reputation intact, Ellen agrees to Archer’s advice. She neither divorces nor

goes back to her husband. After several meetings with Ellen, Archer’s motive to

protect the reputation of the Mingotts changes gradually as he is falling in love

(4)

29

she agrees not to get divorced because she does not want to hurt her family’s

feelings.

In the end, Archer and May get married but Archer’s feeling towards Ellen

remains unchanged. When Archer decides to confess his feeling towards Ellen to

May, she interrupts him with the news of her pregnancy. Twenty-five years later,

May dies of pneumonia. Archer’s eldest son confesses that her mother has told

him the day before her death that Archer is once in love with Ellen. Archer refuses

his son’s suggestion to meet Ellen. He decides to keep the image of Ellen in his

mind.

Biography of Edith Wharton

Edith Newbold Jones was born into the wealthy family of George Frederic

Jones and Lucretia Rhinelander in New York City on January 24th, 1862. She has

two brothers, Frederic and Henry "Harry" Edward.

Edith wrote the Pulitzer prize-winning novel The Age of Innocence (1920).

Set in 1870's New York Society, she examined upper-class tradition, rigidity, and

hypocrisy. As the author of numerous best-selling award-winning works including

novels, short stories, and travel essays, she inspired many other authors. Some of

her works were also adapted to the stage and film, and others are still in print

today, such as The Age of Innocence.

On April 29th, 1855, Edith married a banker named Edward "Teddy"

Robbins Wharton in Trinity Chapel, New York. Their marriage was proved to be

unhappy. One of her works, House of Mirth (1905) became a best seller book in

1905. In 1907 the Whartons moved from their Park Avenue home to 53 Rue de

(5)

30

and they had an affair that lasted for three years. In 1913 she and her husband got

divorced and Edith settled permanently in Paris.

Edith died of a stroke at Pavillon Colombe on August 11th, 1937. Her

funeral was held at the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris and she

was buried in the Cimetiere des Gonards, Versailles, France on August 14th, 1937.

(6)

1

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The Gilded age was the period that lasted from 1880-1910 in America.

"America's Gilded Age was a period of intense economic and social change . . .

Americans closed the frontier, shed their agrarian roots, and embraced new

technologies" (Davis). Because of the opportunity of economic and social

changing, New York upper class society in this period were "perfectly willing to

live stacked on top of one another" (Bear). Gilded Age was the period that

"glittered on the surface but corrupted underneath . . . a period of greed and guile”

(Mintz and McNeil). The New York upper class society will compete with each

other and do anything just to be richer and more successful in order to show their

pride and power. The New York upper class society in this era were also "hiding

the truth about human sexuality - and punishing those who tried to talk about it

and this is part of America's 'puritanical' morality" (High 111). In order to show

their perfect life, they were not only hiding the truth about human sexuality but

(7)

2

prohibiting vices like drunkenness, gambling, ostentatious dress, swearing, and

sabbath-breaking" (Heyrman). The nineteenth-century New York society also

adopted a double standard in both public and private moralities, which means

people had to "talk one way while acting in a completely different way" (High

111). During that period New York was full of double-faced and corrupted people

that made others who had different desires and thoughts from the society had to

sacrifice their happiness to keep the social pride and stability.

One of the American authors in the Gilded Age is Edith Wharton. “Edith

Wharton was in an ideal position to view the social ambitions of the newly rich of

the Gilded Age” (Dwight, Winner, and Curators). It is seen from the fact that

"whatever their origins, new comers had to master - or manipulate - the snobberies

of New York to be accepted" (Beckert). She knew exactly how the upper class

society lived as ". . . she was the ultimate insider, born into the New York upper

crust" (Ryan). She is "a great American writer who has received much praise for

her works" (Lee). The Age of Innocence (1921), for example, has brought her to

be "the first woman who won The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction" (Gale). Most of her

works are "set in the puritanical world of the upper classes" (High 111) and her

stories usually talk about "the problems of women in upper-class society" (111).

Many of Wharton's novels are about "the life and custom of upper class society.

But angry social criticism is not far beneath the surface" (112). Edith Wharton

wrote in a style called "social realism, a style of writing that developed in the later

portion of the nineteenth century" ("Edith Wharton Literary/Historical"). Realism

is "a style of writing that gives the impression of recording or 'reflecting' faithfully

(8)

3

literature of social reality as it is; there should be a point one to one

correspondence between the societies depicted in literature and the real actual

society" (83). Those styles of Wharton's works as mentioned above can be seen in

some of her famous novels like The Age of Innocence (1921), Ethan Frome

(1911), and House of Mirth (1905). The content of those novels represents

Wharton's criticism towards society in the nineteenth century, which are "the

confinement of marriage, especially for women; women's desire for and right to

freedom in general, and particularly sexual and economic freedom, and the reality

that, usually, the desire and right are thwarted" (Ammons).

In my thesis, I choose The Age of Innocence to be analyzed. This novel

tells the life of Newland Archer, a young lawyer from a well-known family who

lives among the rigidity of the New York upper-class society where people will

do anything to keep their reputation intact. Archer marries May Welland, a

woman he does not love, just because it is considered acceptable by the society.

He ignores his true feeling for Ellen Olenska, the woman he loves. This novel

prominently shows how strong the society's influence is in determining each

individual's action. In order to be accepted by the society one should act according

to the valid traditions and social codes, which means one has to sacrifice his/her

individual desire, happiness, and freedom for the sake of society's honor.

In order to reveal Wharton's criticism against New York upper class

society, I think it is relevant to analyze the conflicts in the novel. “Conflict is the

struggle between the opposing forces on which the action in a work of literature

depends” (Flanagan). According to Harry Shaw, in his book Dictionary of

(9)

4

between man against man and man against society; physical conflict, the struggle

between man and the physical world like forces of nature, the difficulties and

dangers; and inner conflict, the conflict between desires within a person (39). In

this thesis I will only focus on analyzing the social conflicts as they are the most

significant in the novel. I believe those conflicts can reveal Wharton's criticism

towards New York high-class society.

Statement of the Problem

The problems I am going to discuss are:

1. What are the social conflicts in the novel?

2. What is the cause of each conflict?

3. What is the resolution of each conflict ?

Purpose of the Study

The purposes of my discussion are as follows:

1. To show the social conflicts in the novel.

2. To show the cause of each conflict.

3. To show the resolution of each conflict.

Method of Research

I use library research in writing my thesis. First, I read the novel that I

have chosen. I then search for some printed and online sources to support my

(10)

5

Maranatha Christian University Organization of the Thesis

This thesis consists of three chapters, which are preceded by the

Acknowledgements, the Table of Contents, and the Abstract. Chapter One is the

Introduction, which consists of the Background of the Study, the Statement of the

Problem, the Purpose of the Study, the Method of Research, and the Organization

of the Thesis. Chapter Two is the Analysis of Social Conflicts in Edith Wharton’s

The Age of Innocence. Finally, Chapter Three is the Conclusion. The thesis ends

with the Bibliography and the Appendices, which contain the Synopsis of The Age

(11)

21

CHAPTER THREE

CONCLUSION

After analyzing the social conflicts in Edith Wharton’s novel The Age of

Innocence, I am going to draw a conclusion regarding the impact of rigid social

custom to individual’s life in New York’s upper-class society.

The first social conflict happens between Newland Archer and May

Welland about a different desire toward the implementation of their wedding. On

one hand, Archer thinks that the tradition of long engagement is a waste of time.

That is why, he pleads with May to hasten their marriage. On the other hand, May

thinks that she cannot act against her parents’ wish to keep their tradition. The

conflict is solved because Archer finds that it is useless to convince May to hasten

their marriage. Besides, May considers Archer’s idea a vulgar thing which is

against her parents’ wish as well as the old tradition of long engagement.

The second social conflict happens between Newland Archer and Mr.

Letterblair when Mr. Letterblair asks Archer to get involved and take cares Ellen’s

case. On one hand, Mr. Letterblair, who represents the Mingotts, wants Archer to

(12)

22

reluctant to get involved in Ellen Olenska’s and gives a legal opinion in Ellen’s

divorce case because he thinks that there are still many men from the Mingotts to

help Ellen Olenska. The conflict is solved, Archer cannot refuse because Mr.

Letterblair and all the Mingotts want him to take care of Ellen’s case. He needs to

meet Ellen Olenska first before her scandal be bared into the society.

The third social conflicts happens between Newland Archer and Mr.

Letterblair when they argue about Ellen Olenska’s wish of getting divorced. On

one hand Mr. Letterblair, who represents the Mingotts, does not agree with

Ellen’s intention of getting divorced because there is no advantage for Ellen to get

divorced. It will only bring an unpleasant situation to their society if Ellen still

insists to get divorced. On the other hand, Archer thinks that it is up to Ellen to

decide what is best for her. Archer thinks that Ellen deserves to pursue her own

happiness. The conflict is solved as Archer realizes that it is useless to tell the

society that Ellen has the right to determine what is good for her life. Although

Archer wants to support Ellen, there is nothing he can do except following his

family’s wish.

The fourth social conflict happens between Newland Archer and Ellen

Olenska when Archer tries to tell Ellen about the fact and consequences of getting

divorced. On one hand, Ellen thinks that she will get her own freedom by getting

divorced from her unfaithful husband. On the other hand, Archer thinks that

Ellen’s wish to get divorced is against her family’s wish. There are no advantages

for Ellen. If she insists on a divorce, she will only ruin her family’s reputation.

The conflict is solved as Ellen finally reconsiders her wish and decides not to get

(13)

23

The fifth social conflict happens between Newland Archer and Ellen

Olenska when Archer asks Ellen to be together with him. On one hand, Archer

thinks that there is still a chance for him to be together with Ellen because he is

not married yet with May Welland. Besides, Archer thinks that May is ready to

give him up because she refuses to hasten their marriage. On the other hand, Ellen

thinks it is impossible because Archer is her cousin’s fiancé and she is still the

wife of Count Olenski. Ellen does not want to hurt May’s feeling or to create

another scandal which will disgrace her family. The conflict is solved as Ellen

receives a telegram which says that May’s parents finally agree to hasten their

marriage. As a gentleman Archer should keep his words and marry May although

he does not love her.

From the resolution of all the social conflicts above, it can be seen that

New York upper-class society in the Gilded Age period is very strict and rigid in

keeping their reputation intact. The individuals have to put aside their own desire

and happiness and give the first priority to the society’s convenience and

acceptance. The society control individual’s life to be the product of their society

and to act based on the rigidity of their social customs and traditions. It can be

seen from the resolution of the conflict between Archer and May. May refuses to

hasten their marriage if it is against her parents’ wish. She becomes the product of

her society because she never fights for her desire. New York society at that time

also pretends to act innocently in front of the individual who is against their old

social customs and traditions but behind do many efforts to throw away those

scandals only to keep their good reputation. The family in this society represses

(14)

24

committing a scandal. It can be seen from the resolution of the conflict between

Archer and Ellen. Although Ellen’s family treats her nicely, still behind Ellen’s

back they try to make Ellen not to get divorced because it will disgrace their

reputation. New York society at that time is unfair towards individual’s desire.

Like Ellen’s case, the Mingott family does not care about Ellen’s feelings and her

desire to get her own freedom. Their priority is only to protect their good

reputation from scandals not for individual’s goodness. In the end Ellen decides

not to get divorced because she wants to protect her family’s reputation.

Moreover, Archer and Ellen are the victims of their rigid society. They sacrifice

their own desire, thoughts and feelings to love each other, in order to protect their

family’s reputation. If they still insist to be together they will become outcasts and

it means that they will ruin their own as well as their family’s reputation. From all

the resolutions of the conflicts it can be seen that in the Gilded Age America,

social customs, traditions and reputation are more important than individual’s

desire. It can be seen from how the individuals in the novel have to give up their

desire in order to obey society’s custom and tradition.

Through The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton is criticizing the rigidity of

New York upper-class society which restrains the freedom of individual to do

what they want if it is against their rigid social custom and tradition. In my

opinion, people have their own rights and freedom to show their feelings and

opinion. Society does not have the right to dictate people what to say, think, and

do. It is not right for society to interfere with individual’s decision in determining

what is good for their own life. I think that a rigid society may cause the

(15)

25

society become the reason why those individuals want to break away from the

rigid social customs and traditions. Furthermore, those rigid social customs and

traditions force the individuals to repress their desire and drive them to express it

secretly since they cannot show it publicly. I turns out that a rigid society does not

make the life of people who live in it become better. Even worse, the individuals

feel unhappy because they have to follow those rigid social customs and traditions

(16)

26

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Text:

Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence. London: Penguin Books, 1974. Print.

References:

Ammons, Elizabeth. “Edith Wharton (1862-1937)”. college.cengage.com Web. 1

Feb. 2014.

Bear, Rob. “Looking Back at Manhattan’s Lost Gilded Age Mansion”.

m.ny.curbed.com. 9 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.

Beckert, Sven. “That Other Gilded Age”. www.economist.com. 31 Mei. 2001.

Web. 29 Jan. 2014.

Davis, Kay. “Photographyand Social Reform”. xroads.virginia.edu. 2000-2003.

Web. 31 Jan. 2014.

Dwight, Winner, and Curators. “Edith Wharton’s World”. npg.si.edu. 19 Apr.

2012. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.

“Edith Wharton-Literary/Historical”. Pink Monkey.com. 7 May. 2007. Web. 8

Apr. 2012.

Flanagan, Mark. “Conflict”. About.com. 2012. Web. 18 Sep. 2012.

Gale, Thomson. “Encyclopedia of World Biography on Edith Wharton”. Book

(17)

27

Heyrman, Christine Leigh. “Puritanism and Predestination”.

nationalhumanitiescenter.org. 2008. Web. 1 Feb. 2014.

High, Peter. B. An Outline of American Literature. London: Longman Group

Limited/Inc, 1986. Print.

Khuman, Prakash. “Social Realism”. Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. 2010. Web. 1

Oct. 2013.

“Learn About the Gilded Age”. Digital History.com. 8 Apr. 2012. Web. 9 Apr.

2012.

Lee, Hermione. “Edith Wharton”. Hermione Lee.com. 16 Jan. 2011. Web. 8 Apr.

2012.

Mintz, S., and McNeil, S. “Overview of the Gilded Age”. digitalhistory.uh.edu. 8

Apr. 2012. Web. 9 Apr. 2012.

Ryan, Pat. “For Edith Wharton’s Birthday, Hail Ultimate Social Climbers”.

nytimes.com. 19 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 Sep. 2013.