Edith Wharton

The Age of Innocence Annotated Edith Wharton

Newland Archer, gentleman lawyer and heir to one of New York City's most well-known families, happily forestalls his highly desirable marriage to the privileged and beautiful May Welland. Yet he finds reason to doubt his choice of bride after the arrival of Countess Ellen Olenska, May's exotic and beautiful 30-year-old cousin. At first, Ellen's arrival and its potential taint on the repute of his bride-to-be's family disturbs Newland, but he becomes fascinated by the worldly Ellen, who brazenly flouts New York society's fastidious rules. wenty-six years later, after May's death, Newland and his eldest son are in Paris. Newland is stunned at the prospect of seeing Ellen again. On arriving outside the apartment building, Newland sends up his son alone to meet Ellen, while he waits outside, watching the balcony of her apartment. Newland considers going up, but in the end decides not to; he walks back to his hotel without seeing her. Newland's final words about the love affair are "It's more real to me here than if I went up.