The Age of Innocence Group

Question:

danomitex
danomitex
Student
College - Junior

In The Age of Innocence, how is Ellen seen as powerful in the way that she directs Newland Archer?

Although it is contrary to what society thinks of a foreign and scandalous woman, I'm trying to find ways in which she can be viewed as powerful by the way she directs Newland Archer.

My teacher suggested one of my topic sentences to be about her power in getting Newland to chase her everywhere.  How would I provide evidence for this though instead of just listing all the places that he follows her to?

Also if you have any other ideas on how she can be viewed as powerful, I'd greatly appreciate it.

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Posted by danomitex on Thursday February 26, 2009 at 12:46 PM and tagged with characters, ellen olenska, newland archer, the age of innocence.

Answers:


  1. sfwriter Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Ellen Olenska is powerful in various ways, in contrast to the other women of New York society, because she is willing to make decisions on her own and face consequences.  It is certainly true that Ellen goes to Skuytercliff and Newland follows her there and other places, but that is not a main source of her power.  Her power -- and it is one that is not found in the other women of Archer's set (such as May Welland, Regina Beaufort, or Archer's sister or mother, with Granny Mingot being the notable exception) -- is in her ability to face scandal, and make judgments based on her own ideas of morality.  When she ran away from Count Olenski, she used the help of a male secretary.  This action, while it freed her, made her the object of gossip.  Later, when she lived in New York, she went to Mrs. Struthers's evening parties, while the rest of the New York women did not.  Ellen lived alone, in an unfashionable part of town.  When her estranged husband tried to win her back to at least a show of marital unity by bargaining with her, through a lawyer, to give back money which had originally been hers, she refused.  After this, perhaps admiring her bravery, her grandmother Mingot made her independent by giving her an adequate income.  And, ultimately, Ellen is the one who refuses to let Archer leave May, because she refuses to gain her happiness at someone else's loss.  She is a woman of strong character and who faces down all the opposition around her. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/age-innocence/book-1-summary
    http://www.enotes.com/age-innocence/book-2-summary
    http://www.enotes.com/age-innocence/countess-ellen-olenska

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    Posted by sfwriter on Thursday February 26, 2009 at 7:06 PM