Edith Wharton Research Paper

Readers who come across Edith Wharton’s creations have most likely read her novels The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth. There are many similarities and differences placed throughout the two novels. A close reading of The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirthreveals Wharton’s use of similarities and differences of the themes of society and class, love and marriage: the love life of characters; and setting of the late 1800’s New York throughout the novels. First, Wharton places similarities and differences in the themes of society and class, marriage, and love throughout the novels. In both novels, the theme of society and class is used to show that class is important to those who are around you. The society and class of the novels
Miss Lily Bart in The House of Mirth and Newland Archer in The Age of Innocence are both on the search for love and fail miserably. In The House of Mirth, Miss Lily Bart is confused on whether to marry for the wealth or for love. “When Lily’s father dies and leaves behind a massive debt, her mother attempts to rescue the family’s social standing by using her daughter’s beauty and desirability as a potential wife. Lily’s sense of moral respectability forces her to turn down marriage proposals she finds beneath her.” (Gale 2). She turns down several marriages with several different men because her pride is too high, and she feels as if she can do better. “Having been accustomed to take herself at the popular valuation, as a person of energy and resource, naturally fitted to dominate any situation in which she found herself, she vaguely imagined that such gifts would be of value to seekers after social guidance” (Wharton 256). Lily backed away from any sight of poverty like it was contaminated and she did not want it. In The Age of Innocence, Newland Archer is soon to be engaged to May Welland, but when Madame Ellen Olenska comes along everything is turned upside down. “The Age of Innocence Wharton succeeds in engaging the reader’s sympathy for all three characters in the love triangles present in the book.” (McDowell 13). Wharton uses the love triangle to get the readers to become more involved in the book, and makes you wonder and hope for who Newland Archer will choose. In The House of Mirth, Miss Lily Bart is able to choose who she can marry, but allows pride to take over who she marries as she turns down many handsome and wealthy men. In The Age of Innocence, Newland Archer’s marriage to May Welland has already been set up and decided upon by his parents to keep the wealth in his family. Although, he has his eyes set for Madame Elena Olenksa when she walks into