Ellen Olenska In The Age Of Innocence

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Society is a mental and moral force that requires , individuals to sacrifice their true Identity ,in order to conform to its beliefs. Society plays a tremendous role in developing a person’s identity. In The Age of Innocence, author Edith Wharton, uses Ellen Olenska as the character who has to undergo the harsh mental and verbal abuse of society. Ellen’s alienation reveals the surrounding society’s assumptions and moral values in such a way ; that it contributes to the meaning of the story in its entirety. The readers are also shown how the society is affected by such a flawed individual. Ellen challenges society’s common traditions for the women and the social status of this time period. Ellen is expected to be meek, content, and restrained, because society assumes this, they don’t expect her to be what she really is. Ellen …show more content…

Ellen challenges society’s moral values and the common ways for the women during this time. Ellen exhibits characteristics of a woman with freedom, she wears that she wants, when she wants , and she even leaves her husband; In spite of the criticism to come . Ellen chooses to live her life happily and not let the assumptions and tactics of the society , change her outlook on life. Unlike the other women in society , Ellen knew everything and expected noting; she was so much more aware than the other women in the society, Ellen wanted to earn everything she had. Wharton mentions the other women in society by saying “ The terrifying product of the social system [they] belonged to and believed in , the young girl who knew nothing and expected everything…(41)”. This quote represents the moral simplicity of Ellen’s life compared to the morals of others in the society. The moral values that society has established are engraved in the women so clearly, that they don’t even realize their lack of

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