The Age of Innocence Group

Question:

hossni
hossni
Student
College - Senior

What is the rising action,climax,falling action and denoument of "The Age of Innocence"?

What is the climax of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton?

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Posted by hossni on Monday January 19, 2009 at 12:41 PM and tagged with climax, denoument, falling action, risng action, the age of innocence.

Answers:

  1. lhc
    lhc Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    Newland Archer, newly engaged to a beautiful debutante of New York society, May Welland, comes to admire, then fall in love with her cousin, the Countess Ellen Olenska. Archer struggles throughout the novel with the notion of keeping up appearances, which is of paramount importance in the society in which he lives versus the possibility of beginning an affair with the Countess Olenska, whose free-spirited, independent personality he finds mysterious and attractive. Ultimately, he chooses his wife, his family, appearances, and the uninspiring society that shaped his and his wife's identities. After 25 years, and May's death, Archer and his son travel to France, and arrange a visit with the Countess at her apartment in Paris. The reader expects the climax of this novel to be some sort of dramatic reunion between the two almost-lovers. However, when the time to actually enter the building is upon them, Archer sends his son in without him, apparently choosing to content himself with memories rather than a renewed acquaintance.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/age-innocence/

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    Posted by lhc on Monday January 19, 2009 at 2:11 PM