Edith Wharton’s 1921 Pulitzer prize-winning novel, The Age of
Innocence, carefully illustrates the social stigmas prevalent in
1870s New York. I loved Wharton’s ability to draw me in to the
internal battles the main characters faced, and I empathized
with their desires to find belonging. While today’s social
stigmas differ, the emotions remain the same. In the beginning
of the novel, Newland Archer ponders his upcoming engagement to
May Welland, idealistic about his ability to influence her life
and help her become a “free” woman, simply by being an engaging
and caring husband. Newland Archer’s idealistic world is shaken,
however, first when May’s cousin and his old beau (Ellen Mingott
Olenska) returns to New York, shamed and disgraced after leaving
her cruel and abusive husband. Newland must reconsider his
notions of women’s social position. When Madame Olenska begins
to seek a divorce, the New York society is shocked. Such a
situation would bring shame to all of Ellen’s family, including
Newland’s wife-to-b