In "the Age of Innocence" the author, Wharton portraits May Welland as a woman who presents innocence and purity and follows the strict rules of society consistently. In one scene of this book she is shown as a chameleon who does not 'change' her mind but tell the truth and is clear for the first time (in the book). On page 110-111 she presents a strong woman who wants to talk abou the truth "she seemed to grow in womanly stature and dignity" ..... "Or even if it's true: why shouldn't we speak of it"
Do you think that May Welland has a strong character or is she more of a conformist? And what would happen when she finds out that there is something between Archer and her cousin?
I think that May can be seen as a strong character and as a conformist. In the scene that we read when Archer and May talk about their future wedding plans. May seems to suggest that she knows something about Archer and Ellen and she acts very strong during their conversation. May has strong views about how Archer should act if he is in love with another women. However once May does not need to be strong she falls right back into her role of a innocent girl following society. Though May knows what is going on more then you would think, she can be strong but overall she is more of a conformist.
ReplyDeleteSo, do you think that she would react strongly when she would find out that there is something between her husband and her cousin? Or would you consider about a confused May who gets out of realtity because her husband cheat on her.
ReplyDeleteI think of May as a strong character, and she seems to be much more intelligent than the reader is initially led to believe. Like we discussed in class, it's somewhat obvious from her conversation with Archer that she realizes he isn't fully in love with her, and that she seems suspicious that he may be associating with another woman. Even though they are engaged, she tells Archer that he doesn't have to marry her, if he doesn't love her. This, to me, seems very non-comformist; it would be completely against the rules of society to refuse marriage after engagement. Drawing on this fact, I feel that Archer is far more conformist to society than May, despite how she is presented in the novel. Archer is the one who follows society's rules, and goes on with the plan for marriage, whereas May suggested breaking these rules for Archer (and Love's) sake.
ReplyDeleteI think that's true! Another point according to the fact that Archer is non-conformist is that he proposed Olenska not getting divorce. Like we also discussed he is a significant reason that Olenska and he aren't together.
ReplyDeleteSo, this is another question which probably doesn't fit here but: Do you think that Archer has an unsympathic character?
i think that most of the time, may is portrayed as a conformist. but in some scenes, like where she confronts archer, it shows her breaking away from societies values. i think that the author did this to show that nobody can completely mold themselves with society, which enforces the idea that societies values are very skewed, selfish and immoral.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Oliver that May is stronger than the reader and Archer are led to believe initially. I think that she hides this strength (unlike Ellen)in order to fit into society. Archer is initially impressed by May's "speech" in Saint Augustine when she tells him that its okay to leave her if he loves someone else. But then he realizes that she isn't as strong as she seems when he says, "and he understood that her courage and initiative were all for others, and that she had none for herself". She is strong enough to talk about ideas like this and stray from society, but she would never be strong enough to act on these ideas or let them play out in her own life. In this way she is similar to Archer in being a "thinker" and not necessarily a "doer".
ReplyDeleteI agree with Wallace that she is protrayed as a conformist but i think really she is a strong woman. In the scene where her and Archer are talking, I think she realizes that maybe there is another woman but doesnt understand that its her cousin. I think she hides her strengh because that is what all woman do in elite New York Soceity. So May is just conforming to society. I dont think she would be that surprised if Archer had an affair, because i think she would have saw it coming. She would be strong enough to handle it.
ReplyDeleteI think that May is actually smarter than she looks. I agree with Caroline about how she is still a conformist but I disagree about her being innocent. I think that May already figured out that Archer and Oleneka have something between them. I also think that May plays innocent even when she is giving Archer an "out". May would not take the news well about Archer and Olenska because I think that she happens to be very conniving.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with Nicki. Although the book tries to portray May as being innocent and a conformist to society, deep down she is going against it. Also, although her acts and/or words come off as being sweet and caring, they actually are very conniving. She tries to make others feel sad for her by playing innocent and pretending like she doesn't understand what is going on, when really she does and is just using this persona to manipulate those around her. She uses this in the case of Archer and Countess Olenska. She knows that they both almost feel bad for her and want to protect her because she is so "delicate". She uses these feelings to keep Archer to herself. She knows that if Archer were to go with Countess Olenska she would be seen as the laughing stock of society, and that is all that she really cares about. Other people's views of her are her main priority, and she will do anything to continue to be seen as the sweet girl that she has been for her whole life.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Jillian--I'm with you. In fact, I think she's taking a calculated risk when she tells Archer he can break the engagement if there's someone else. I think she's smart enough to know that her saying this will have the exact opposite effect: it will make Archer feel so guilty that he'll go through with the marriage (and maybe even give up the other woman). May is no dummy, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI think that May is a very strong character who acts naive and dumb because that is what society wants from her. So I think that she won't like it when she understands that they have an affair and will try to hurt both of them as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think May is quite the tricky character and is actually very manipulative. I agree with Ms. Stuart when she says that Archer will feel so much guilt for treating May this way, and it will influence him to NOT break off the engagement. May has certainly thought this through in my opinion. I think seeing her in this way might be complicated to fully understand, but I think we will find out more towards the close of the book. I do have the prediction that Olenska and Archer will end up together, so I am certainly looking forward to how May reacts to this. From this select part of the book, I get the feeling that there is more to May then what meets the eye. She has a good sense of what is going on although she might not exactly know who the other woman is. I am excited to see her reaction when she finds out it was her own cousin.
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