which Ellen's allure penetrates. The fact that rumors about an affair in Ellen's past harm her socially, while similar rumors about Newland leave him unscathed, starkly highlights the double standard.

In the novel's setting, although women's roles are progressively expanding, they are still subject to these double standards. In Chapter 7, Newland expresses his conviction that women should enjoy the same freedoms as men. Wharton adds:

"Nice" women, even if wronged, would never assert the kind of freedom he envisioned, and generous-minded men like himself were therefore—in the heat of the argument—more gallantly inclined to grant it to them.

Newland is deeply conflicted between his desire to be with Ellen and the societal norms that would never accept such a decision. Despite this inner turmoil, he ultimately cannot abandon the traditions and expectations that have shaped his entire life. Just as he resolves to escape to Europe with Ellen, May reveals her pregnancy, a revelation that seals his destiny. Newland cannot bring himself to dishonorably leave his wife and unborn child, so he resigns himself to the life that awaits him. For the sake of his family's well-being and social acceptance, he sacrifices his love for Ellen. In the introduction to Edith Wharton: Modern Critical Views, esteemed literary scholar Harold Bloom notes that "Newland's world centers upon an idea of order, a convention that stifles passion and yet liberates from chaos."

At the beginning of the novel, Ellen returns to New York with plans to divorce. However, she soon discovers that doing so would lead to her being shunned by New York society unless she stays married to the count. Newland is given the task of advising her and explains that her personal happiness must come second to the consequences her family would endure if she divorces. With reluctance, Ellen agrees to remain married, even though she has no intention of going back to her husband.

Readers quickly grasp that in old New York, appearances hold more weight than reality. In chapter 6, Wharton states, "In reality they all lived in a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or even thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs." Members of New York's elite society engage in behaviors such as choosing words carefully, dressing appropriately, and upholding the illusion of a happy marriage. As long as Julius seems financially responsible (despite everyone knowing his questionable past), he is accepted by society. However, once his dishonest dealings come to light, he and his wife are shunned. Lawrence Lefferts, meanwhile, publicly advocates for marital fidelity, even though everyone knows of his numerous infidelities. Carol Wershoven, in her book The Female Intruder in the Novels of Edith Wharton, observes, "It is therefore not marital fidelity that is a value in New York, but rather the appearance of it."

Following May's death, Newland realizes she maintained her own facade throughout their marriage. He never knew that she understood the sacrifice he made by not pursuing Ellen, and he is touched by her silent understanding. Early in their marriage, May's interactions with Newland reveal a certain level of pretense. She is fully aware of his feelings for another woman, but instead of addressing it directly, she pretends ignorance while making seemingly innocent comments that both recognize as challenges. For example, when Newland tells her he is traveling to Washington for business, May knows he intends to see Ellen. When she suggests he should make sure to visit Ellen while there, they both understand she is acknowledging her awareness and expects him to behave honorably.

In the narrative of Newland Archer, Wharton delves into a favorite theme of hers: the surrender of artistic and romantic aspirations for the sake of family obligations and social standing. Newland Archer, a young lawyer from a prestigious New York family, thinks he is enamored with the captivating Countess Ellen Olenska and even considers abandoning his wife for her. However, when he learns that his wife, May, is pregnant, he gives up his dreams of love and contentment, opting to stay with May instead.

The difficulty of genuine communication among society's elite is a central theme in the Archer story. Newland Archer lives in what Wharton refers to as "a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or even thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs." Many important interactions between Archer and his wife go unspoken. Frequently, Archer envisions what she is saying to him (or, even more intricately, what she believes he is saying to her), but he may misunderstand these symbols. Because so little of their feelings are actually expressed, Archer often appears to be engaged in a personal monologue.

In the subplot involving Julius Beaufort, the themes of wealth and sexual morality are significant. Outwardly, society appears almost Puritanical in its stance on divorce and the unconventional lifestyles of Europeans. Yet, as Wharton illustrates, even in the New York of the 1870s, people were willing to ignore social misconduct or rudeness if someone had enough money to maintain their status. The only truly unforgivable offense was losing one's wealth. When Beaufort's financial empire crumbles, not only is the ambitious Beaufort ostracized by the elite, but his wife is also shunned, despite her direct ties to some of New York's most esteemed families.