Innocence Pdf Upd - David Hamilton Age Of

One of the primary concerns of the novel is the social stratification of the time. Wharton masterfully portrays the rigid social hierarchy of the Gilded Age, where social standing, family background, and wealth determined one's position in society. The novel highlights the strict rules governing social interactions, particularly for women, who were expected to conform to certain standards of behavior and etiquette. Newland Archer, as a member of the aristocracy, is well-versed in these rules and expectations. However, his encounter with Ellen Olenska, who embodies a more liberated and European perspective, forces him to confront the suffocating nature of these social norms.