I do understand why Edith Wharton’s novel The Age of Innocence was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; she is a masterful writer. It is considered a classic of American literature. What I do not understand is why anyone would find the story appealing enough to read.
Wharton’s
book is set in Manhattan during America’s Gilded Age, the later decades of the
nineteenth century. It is basically a summation of the lives of a group of elitists,
“upper class” people without a serious care in the world – and by elitist I
mean financial, definitely not intellectual. They have zero empathy with the
outside world. More accurately they have zero recognition of the outside world.
F. Scott Fritzgerald’s Great Gatsby, from the same era at least acknowledged
others.
I think
perhaps what I dislike about the story is it reminds me of today’s America. Early
in the novel is a ridiculous subplot explaining the necessity of having the
largest ballroom in New York City, even if it is used only once a year.
In the
novel Newland Archer gets engaged to Mary Weeland, a good match by high society
standards, both are from wealthy, respected families. They will eventually
marry, prim and proper. Newland however has become infatuated with Mary’s
cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska who has recently returned to New York because she
is estranged from the Count and is rumored to want a divorce (considered a scandal
in that era).
There
is one, and only one, interesting plot in the book. Olenska makes the point
that women are ostracized for divorce and considered whores if they have an affair.
While it is okay for men to get a divorce, and secretly okay for them to have extra-marital
affairs. Newland understands and agrees. Yet, they both play by the rules.
My
criticism is with the story, not the writing. Wharton is superb, I’ve previously
posted blogs on her novels A Son at the Front and Ethan Frome.
A movie
was made of the book in 1993 starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and
Winona Ryder. Despite good performances, they weren’t able to save the movie.
Recommendation: Yes if you are a literature
major. No on the pleasure reading scale. And definitely a no on the movie.
