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Example research essay topic: Magill Frank N Englewood Cliffs - 2,023 words

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Playing by Society's Rules Wharton's The Age of Innocence depicts Ellen Olenska as a perfect example of courage and strength because of her desire to go against society and the degradation of women. Through the narrative eyes of Newland Archer, the reader sees a woman like no other woman (102). Ellen Olenska is much like Hawthorne's Hester Prynne in the way she exhibits courage and strength. As an outcast of a hypocritical society, Ellen is worthy of the yellow roses that seem too rich, too strong, in their fiery beauty for May (69). In fact, she embodies these same qualities. Ellen married an immensely rich Polish nobleman, had her portrait painted nine times, and was surrounded by acres of roses, historic pearls, and priceless furniture, but it wasnt until she moved back to New York that she truly became rich.

Ironically, her wealth developed as her place in society dwindled. Ellen credits Newland Archer for her new life, her new wealth: It was you who made me understand that under the dullness there are things so fine and sensitive and delicate that even those I most cared for in my other life look cheap in comparison (209). This matured Ellen has learned to depend not on her material wealth, but rather on richness of heart and sincerity. She goes on to tell Newland that he gave her her first glimpse of real life (210).

Even though she is unable to live that life, she is able to appreciate it. She accepts her outcast position and makes life as rich as she can. This appreciation of life can also be seen in Ellen's courage. Despite the fact that she was not allowed to be a member of high society, Ellen still carried her head high (141). When Ellen returned to New York, she wasnt received as the rosy-cheeked little girl she had once been. Instead, she was now poor Ellen Olenska the adulterer, the outcast.

The conditions from which she had fled were intolerable, past speaking of, past believing: she was young, she was frightened, she was desperate, and yet she survived (100). This triumph gave her the courage to break rules she didnt even know existed. At parties, she entered the room without any appearance of haste or embarrassment (53). She talked to the men with whom she wanted to talk, and then she would get up, walk across the room and talk to someone else. This was not the way a nice lady behaved, but the countess was apparently unaware of having broken any rule (55).

Society told Ellen to be ashamed and humiliated because she had left her husband, but she refused to conform and was thus looked upon as an outcast, one not worthy of high society. Underlying Ellen's courage raged a passion for life and for love. Much like the fiery beauty of the yellow roses, Ellen's passion fuels her life. She has chosen to live among the artists of New York because she is excited by their expression and creativity. What she doesnt understand is why her relations despise it and urge her to relocate to a reputable part of town. Ellen feels alive among the artists: poetry and art are the breath of her life (137).

This passion excites others. Newland Archer is captivated by Ellen's ability to live and think outside the boundaries society imposes. It was a part of her, either a projection of her mysterious and outlandish background or of something inherently dramatic, passionate and unusual in herself, that excited him (100). Ellen Olenska never returned to her husband and even after thirty years made no change in her way of living (309). This wealthy, passionate, courageous woman found happiness as an outcast. Edith Wharton was the fist woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for The Age of Innocence in 1921 (Magill, Masterplots II 1: 40).

She likes to show what happens to people that are not prepared to live in a complicated world in her novels. Like Wharton's other novels, The Age of Innocence involves a love triangle. This seems to be her favorite way of showing her characters uncertainty (Magill, Masterplots II 1: 39). In her novel she illustrates the need for men and woman to find passion within an ordered and repressed society.

The Age Of Innocence, is referring to the authors first hand experiences of life in a noble society during the 1870 s (Faust 2: 371). Her novel captures the atmosphere of aristocratic New York as its inhabitants move about in their world of subtle ties, innuendoes, and strict adherence to the dictates of fashionable society (Magill, Masterplots I: 85). The novel was probably so successful because the author knew so much about this subject (Wharton, vii). Her life experiences were much like those of her characters. To begin with, Wharton was brought up in a rich New York society, which is the plot of the novel. Second, she had a disastrous marriage much like Ellen's marriage.

Another relationship between the author and the novel is the resemblance of the characters to the author. Ellen has charm, liberated views and even a slight French accent, which resembles Wharton. Archer is an example of the side of Wharton that could never entirely escape the past (Magill, Critical 8: 3537). The novel proposes that society have a large influence on the people of New York. The novel is an incisive, but oblique attack on the intricate and tyrannous tribal customs of highly stratified New York society (Magill, Masterplots I: 85). To go against societies rules is to threaten the very fabric of a moral universe (Faust, 2: 371).

Although Wharton is sentimental towards old New York, she also shows a delicate, but cutting irony of society's limitations and its narrow-mindedness (Magill, Critical 8: 3537). There are many examples that indicate this in the novel. For one, Newland Archer is a man who is different from most people in old New York, but he is lacking the motivation and courage to separate himself physically from the security of the life he has known all his life (Magill, Masterplots 1: 85). Instead, He decides to stay in an unchanging society and put up with the dullness of May. His decision to do so was probably a great personal loss. Wharton makes the reader believe that Archer lives an beautified life, but what happiness he could have had from breaking away from society, was gently but firmly denied of him (Magill, Critical 8: 3537).

Archer sacrifices his passion in order to be an upright husband and a contributing member of society (Magill, Masterplots II 1: 40). If he chooses his other option, he would have paid a great price. A price that most of us, says Wharton, lack the strength to pay (Faust, 371). Ellen Olenska, on the other hand seems to be a bit more free than Archer. She has freed herself from the control of society by her experiences overseas and from her separation from her husband. She symbolizes tragedy and emotion by her presence as well as by her past experiences.

She does not comply with what is considered accepted behavior in the New York society. Because of this, she is mysterious and interesting to the people that notice her, even if it is only to criticize her. The society objects to her active sexuality and her wish to get a divorce. At first they try to exclude her from society. As if on cue, everyone refuses to go to a dinner that is for her.

Later, they exile her to Europe. The society cares less about her freedom than it does about security of its continuation of its values. (Magill, Masterplots 1: 84). Wharton does not only show how difficult it is to break away from society, but also what happens to those who is swallowed up by the rules of society. May Welland is a perfect example. May is definitely a product of the system (Magill, Masterplots 1: 84).

She is loved by many and is a perfect example of what a proper woman should be. May is described as a product of the social system, while Ellen is considered more of a rebel (Magill, Masterplots II 1: 41). Archer later realizes that May will never surprise him with a new idea, a weakness, a cruelty, or an emotion (Magill, Masterplots 1: 84). To him, May will be just like her mother and he sees himself being just like Mays father. Despite the hypocrisy and the devotion to appearances, the society maintains an order that Wharton and her characters seem willing to loose (Magill, Masterplots II 1: 39). Wharton also saw the social order as the area of lifes most important values.

Values such as: decency, honesty, ! and moral commitment (Faust, 371). The notion of innocence refers to several things. First, it refers to the time period. The novel was written just before 1920, when many changes were taking place. World War I had just changed the world.

The confusion and horrors that was caused by the war seemed to make society loose its morals. In The Age of Innocence, Wharton looks back at another era that struggled to preserve its sense of order and traditions (Magill, Masterplots II 1: 40). The notion of innocence also refers to the allusions of Faust, the opera that was being performed at the beginning of the novel and near the end. Much like the character in the opera, Newland starts out as a book lover, but once he meets Ellen, he looses interest in the books. Instead he wants experience. An example is the scene that takes place in the library of May and Newlands home.

Newland feels trapped of marriage life, so he opens a window, as if he wants to fly out and get away. Newland wants Ellen, but in the end leaves her and decides to accept the demands of his society. The novel is not necessarily tragic. It is simple question of balance between passion and order (Magill, Masterplots II 1: 40). Lastly, innocence could also refer to the characters. At first, Newland believes May to be innocent because he believes that Ellen is in love with him.

He thinks that May do not know what is going on between them. Later, Newland seems to be the innocent one because while everyone else seems to know the actual situation, Newland maintains romantic ideals. In the end, the most tragic character in the novel is May. She is thought to be the most innocent and naive throughout the novel, but it turns out that she is the most aware of the situation of them all (Magill, Masterplots 1: 84). Edith Wharton's novel The Age of Innocence, illustrates the need for men and women to find passion within an ordered and repressed society. Wharton clearly demonstrates how the influence of society effects people.

Through May, she shows us the result of what happens if one does everything that they can to go along with society's traditions. Ellen on the other hand is the product of what happens to someone who rebels against society. Archer is on the border of both. He wants to reject the traditions of his society; much like Ellen has, but does not have the strength to do so. As a result of this, he lives his life feeling trapped he word innocence plays an important role in this novel. It refers to a chaotic time period of rapid changes, the allusions of the opera, Faust, and the innocence of the characters.

Perhaps the reason her novel was so successful was because she knew the subject so well and had similar experiences as her characters. Works Cited: Faust, Langdon. American Woman Writers. 2 vols. New York: Ungar, 1983. Magill, Frank N.

Critical Survey of Long Fiction. 8 vols. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press Inc. , 1991. Magill, Frank N. Masterplots. 1 vol. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press Inc. , 1996. Magill, Frank N.

Masterplots II: Women Literature Series. 1 vols. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press, 1995. Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. , 1920.


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Research essay sample on Magill Frank N Englewood Cliffs

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