The Age of Innocence :: Age of Innocence Essays

The Age of whiteness   The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton, contains many flat, static reference works representing doddery New York society. At the apex of that society is Mr. and Mrs. Henry train der Luyden. As the narrator describes, their appearances ar r ar, but yet these few appearances provide more than enough information for the reviewer to "know" the characters. This information comes from several sources. The first is the narrator, when most of Old New York society is described. The second reference involves Newland bowman and Mrs. Mingotts pursuance of approval of the van der Luydens and the exchanges that took place. The final instance is the r atomic number 18 occasion of a dinner at the van der Luyden home and the occurrences here. From the information here, readers develop a complete picture of the van der Luydens. At the end of chapter VI, the narrator describes the hierarchy of Old New York. The last family described is the van der Luyde ns. The narrator writes, "the van der Luydensstood above all of them" (50). The narrator blatantly tells us that the van der Luydens be the highest "ranking" family of Old New York society. Just previous to this, the narrator informs the reader that they descended from both British and French aristocracy, supporting the fact that the van der Luydens are the most revered family. Next the narrator makes it known to readers that "Mrs. and Mr. van der Luyden were so just now alike neither had ever reached a decision without prefacing it by a mysterious conclave" (52), this conclave being, "I shall first have to peach this over with my husband/wife." This shows that, one, the van der Luydens cannot be characterized separately for they are exactly alike, and, two, they consult each other before making decisions. Once over again the narrator brings forward, quite openly, information about said characters. The narrators informing the reader of such facts sets up the reasoning behind the characters motivations, and the reactions of other characters. One of such instances involves Archer and Mrs. Mingotts quest of the advice of the van der Luydens. First, it is important to note that double-checking ones plans, as Archer does here, indicates the high status of the van der Luydens. Archer and Mrs. Mingotts having to ask some other family for the "proper" thing to do proves their dominance over society and that they are the experts of "good form.