The Age Of Innocence Literary Analysis Essay

The Age of Innocence: Affairs of Ignorance and Knowledge Good authors use different strategies to emphasize the main ideas of their writing, and the type of narrative style is an important strategy that is often used. Edith Wharton wrote “The Age of Innocence” in limited-omniscient, third-person narrative point of view to illustrate Archer’s ignorance of how transparent his relationship is with Ellen, and she uses Chapter XXX to prove this by using Archer’s thoughts, May’s actions, and Mrs Mingott’s actions. Wharton’s use of limited-omniscient, third-person narrative focuses on Newland Archer’s point of view. His inner thoughts and feelings are shown, but the reader is also given the narrators perspective, which sometimes differs from Archer’s, and provides insight regarding the reality of certain situations. Throughout the novel, Archer seems to think that his private feelings for Ellen are only known to him; yet the narrator gives subtle clues that reveal this knowledge in others. Archer often imagines what his life would be like without May:
What if it were she [May] who was dead! If she were going to die—to die soon—and leave him free… She glanced up, and he saw by her widening eyes …show more content…
Archer’s own thoughts are hopeful imaginings of the secret life he wishes he could have with Ellen, and he is blinded to the reality staring him in the face. May is hopeful, yet resigned to Archer’s feeling for Ellen; she wants him for herself, but she also wants him to be happy. Mrs Mingott is only using the knowledge of the affair for her own benefit. Overall, the characters in Edith Wharton’s novel are all clearly described using a point of view that emphasizes their strengths and