The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

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Edith Wharton was the author of The Age of Innocence, a novel published in 1920. In the book, many topics were considered, such as divorce, the empowerment of women, and the lifestyle of the wealthy. The inspiration for these motifs occurred throughout her life. Although Edith Wharton’s work was not well-received, the topics included in her writings held many truths about upper-class society in the late 1800s; therefore, Edith Wharton was influenced by her past and societal experiences.
Wharton received inspiration for her writings through her upbringing. Edith Wharton lived in upper-class New York City, which is the setting of her novel The Age of Innocence. “But I’m improvident: I live in the moment when I’m happy” (Wharton 87). This quotation shows the mindset of most of the people of Old New York. Because they were forced to hide their true emotions, when they were sincerely happy, they only focused on the happiness in their lives. However, her works were not just influenced by where she was raised. As a young child, Edith Wharton read many of the books in her father’s library...

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