The Age of Innocence, a novel by Edith Wharton, is a poignant portrayal of New York high society in the late 19th century. At its core, the novel explores themes of love, social expectations, and the consequences of straying from the norm. Throughout the novel, Wharton employs the use of symbols to further convey these themes and add depth to her characters and their relationships.
One symbol that appears throughout the novel is the color red. Red is often associated with passion, desire, and love, and Wharton uses this color to symbolize the main character, Newland Archer's, hidden desires and emotions. For example, when Archer first meets the woman he falls in love with, Ellen Olenska, he notices that she is wearing a "red wisp of a feather" in her hat, which symbolizes the forbidden nature of their relationship and the passion that will ultimately drive them apart. Additionally, the red curtains in Archer's home symbolize the trapping and suffocating nature of his society and its expectations, further highlighting the conflict between his desire for Ellen and his duty to maintain the status quo.
Another symbol in The Age of Innocence is the use of nature and the outdoors. Throughout the novel, nature is often depicted as a source of freedom and escape from the rigid constraints of society. For instance, Ellen often retreats to the countryside and gardens to find solace from the judgment and gossip of her peers. This serves to contrast with the artificial and superficial nature of New York high society, which is constantly preoccupied with appearances and maintaining social hierarchies.
The character of May Welland, Archer's fiancée, is also symbolized through the use of flowers. May is often depicted as a delicate and innocent flower, with her "candle-like" appearance and her role as the perfect society wife. However, as the novel progresses, it becomes clear that May is not as innocent as she appears and is capable of manipulation and deceit in order to protect her own interests. This symbolizes the façade of innocence that is often maintained in high society and the ways in which individuals will go to great lengths to preserve their reputation and social standing.
In conclusion, The Age of Innocence is a thought-provoking novel that uses symbols to explore themes of love, society, and the consequences of straying from societal expectations. The use of the color red, nature, and flowers all serve to deepen the characters and their relationships, adding layers of complexity to the novel.
