On The Main Characters’ Moral Inquiry And Spiritual Quest In The Age Of Innocence

Edith Wharton is an important American writer at the turn of the twentiethcentury. During her literary career, Wharton has produced many influential worksand still enjoys a high reputation among today’s literary critics. The Age ofInnocence, which was published in1920, is generally acknowledged as Wharton’sfinest work and won her the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in1921.For a better understanding of the novel’s deep meaning and a morecomprehensive appreciation of Wharton’s greatness, this thesis explores thereflection of Darwin’s evolutionary theory and Plato’s conception of Reality in TheAge of Innocence through a detailed study of the text.The rapid development of science and rationalism in the nineteenth centurymakes Wharton embrace many new scientific ideas. For the monumental position heoccupied in science, Charles Darwin with his theory of evolution proves to be theone who has exerted the greatest influence on Wharton. In The Age of Innocence,Wharton’s profound knowledge in Darwin’s evolutionary theory enables her toobjectively analyze the entire moral structure of the old New York society and revealits limitations. Through her depiction of those socially trapped characters, Whartoncriticizes the devastating effects of old New York’s rigid and stifling morality on thefates of the individuals.Wharton’s scientific inquiry of old New York’s hypocritical morality does notmake her become pessimistic about individual fates; instead, she believes that therestill exists something deep in the human hearts which can transcend the limitationsof the environment. In the novel, Ellen and Archer’s search for “the real thing” istheir spiritual quest for inner power and reflects the Greek philosopher Plato’sconception of “Reality”. Through their commitment to truth and pursuit of love,Ellen and Archer eventually step out of their moral dilemma and achieve an innerstate of happiness.In the end, the thesis points out that The Age of Innocence with itsprofound scientific and philosophical ideas can be regarded as an antidoteWharton provides for the bleak world after the First World War. Through thisfiction, Wharton tries to convey to her readers a positive message that when theouter world can not provide meaning of life, people’s spiritual power from theinner world can still guide them step out of dilemma and move toward happiness.