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The Age Of Innocence

            "Archer and Ellen are victims of an imperilled class" which demands the sacrifice of their relationship in order to preserve the social order of the clan. Using this statement as a starting point, evaluate how society influences the characters in The Age of Innocence".
             In your answer consider:.
             Wharton's presentation of the restrictions society placed on its members.
             Wharton's view of society as presented through her creation of characters such as Ellen and Archer.
             Her treatment of the influential characters who make up the collective voice of that society.
             "If things go on at this pace, Lefferts thundered, looking like a young prophet dressed by Poole and who had not yet been stoned, we shall see our children fighting for invitations to swindlers' houses, and marrying Beauforts bastards".
             In this statement we see Lawrence Lefferts describing what he thinks will happen, if the New Rich are allowed to break any further into the circle of New York society. I think that this quotation shows us how the society in Old New York was disintegrating. The members of society could see the demise of their world; therefore society began to withdraw into itself as a form of protection. I think that it was due to this withdrawal that the relationship of Ellen and Archer was sacrificed. I agree with what Lefferts says in the above quotation although I think that he misses something. He believes that marrying Beauforts bastards' is something unquestionably bad. Reading this novel now, I see it as something perfectly normal. Lefferts is disgusted by this prospect, but fails to see that it is the future and he is powerless to stop it. .
             Society in 1870s New York was in decline. Previously society would only have accepted someone if they were born into money. This began to change when many immigrants came to America. Society was overrun with new money. The members of society did not like new people they were opposed to new ideas and new members.


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