Imagery And Symbolism In The Age Of Innocence By Edith Wharton

Imagery and Symbolism Edith Wharton creates the novel with a high percentage of imagery and symbolism in one. Some ways she combines both imagery and symbolism together is by a flower. Wharton states, “He had never seen any as sun-golden before, and his first impulse was to send them to May instead of the lilies. But they did not look like her - there was something too rich, too strong, in their fiery beauty”(Wharton). Archer is talking to himself of the beautiful flowers that he is surrounded by but sees a specific flower that catches his eyes. Wharton uses flowers as a symbol to depict how one’s beauty can be depicted as a flower itself. In this case, the flower that catches Archer's eyes is no other than Countess Olenska because he can’t see anything special about May when he sees her. Another example of symbolism and imagery is a voyage

The reason for that is because young men and women had to follow their superiors beliefs in any ways possible such as marriage, jobs, studies, life, etc. All young men and women had to find some way of approval to do something such as getting married. During those years, older adults were the ones to choose who the young man or women was to marry even if they aren’t in love with the individual. They would have to face their disagreement in secret and accept their choices given since it was a right to be known as someone extraordinary to society. The meaning of the title will change readers thoughts of the story because at first, readers would think that this book is about how the characters have reached an age of innocence where everyone can believe them and their sayings. But as they read along, they will finally start to notice that it's mostly about how young men and women have to follow orders to have a wonderful life where society can