Ethan Frome Vs. Age of Innocence

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Recommended: Oppression in literature

Society is "an organized group periodically meeting because of common interests or beliefs; distinguishable by particular aims or standards of living; or a social circle having a clearly marked identity". Because society has "particular aims or standards of living", it restricts people on what they can and can not do according to their particular aims. Society therefore becomes oppressive and rejects what does not follow its usual way. Edith Wharton shows this in her literary works and shows the severeness of following this oppression. Wharton, author of Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome, shows that society is oppressive and restricts people of what they truly desire in these two different books.

The setting shows that no matter the place or people, society will always restrict. Ethan Frome takes place in a small, poor area called Starkfield, while Age of Innocence takes place in the large city of New York. New York is a big, rich city with sophisticated people who have higher standards and only expect the "best" behavior. In Age of Innocence, no family invites Beaufort to dinner or any social events due to his undesirable social status. He divorced his wife for a mistress which was unheard of at that time. Society had tried to restrict him to stay with his wife, and because he rejected this he is punished socially. In Ethan Frome, the town looks down upon Ethan Frome and his family for their past and their dissimilarity to the rest of the town. Mr. Hale does not pay Ethan when he asks for the advance, because he is taking advantage of Ethan. He is acting as the oppressor like society; and Ethan does not argue and therefore is like a follower being restricted, because he did not get paid. Also, wh...

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...rue desire to be with Ellen. When people follow society, they do not get what they truly desire and therefore their life is left unfulfilled.

Aristotle once said: "He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god". This statement is very true and applies to today's world as well as back then. Aristotle is basically saying that if you do not to follow society then you have a great power. Society is so oppressive that rejecting it means dire consequences. When Ellen Ollenska rejects society, she is treated horribly and is shut down by New York. Being able to overpass the oppressiveness of society means bravery and true loyalty to ones heart. Ethan and Newland did not pursue what they truly desired and therefore did not follow their heart. Their lives are left untrue and empty.

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