Sometimes people use society as an excuse for not seeking out their dreams. At the end of The Age of Innocence, Archer is fifty-seven years old and is thinking of his life over the years. His wife, May, has died two years ago. His son Dallas has become an architect and has taught Archer all sorts of things about it. His respectability in the community is firm. He thinks of Ellen from time to time and realizes he has becomea good citizen,?(Wharton 331) but has failed to obtain theflower of life?(Wharton 331).
Archer always had society to blame for why he and Ellen couldn't be together. Ellen was going to get a divorce, but for the good of the family Archer talks her into staying married. Then he falls in love with her, but can't be with her because she is married. Archer has been pushing for his wedding with May to be sooner because he doesn't trust himself. But when the wedding moves to an earlier date, he has already fallen in love with Ellen. May tells Archer that she is pregnant and as already told Ellen about it. Archer realizes May has known about his attraction to Ellen, since she intentionally tells Ellen about the pregnancy first so Ellen would stay away from Archer. Archer blames all these incidents along with others for him not being able to be with Ellen (Wharton 331).
Archer receives a phone call from his son Dallas. Dallas tells him that he is going to Paris on business; he wants Archer to accompany him. Archer goes to Paris with his son; there, Dallas notifies him that Ellen is expecting them in the evening. Dallas says that Archer should definitely go see her because Ellen was once Archer'sFanny"(Wharton 339), the "woman Archer would have chucked everything for, but didn't"(Wharton 340). Dallas reveals to Archer that May had told him she asked Archer togive up the thing he wanted most, and he did" (Wharton 340), while in her deathbed. Archer merely says that she didn't ask.