tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post5785287945469377163..comments2023-10-26T04:53:55.401-05:00Comments on Literary Musings: The Age of Innocence: Book OneBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-19429894498480448732011-02-24T17:02:54.857-06:002011-02-24T17:02:54.857-06:00I agree that Olenska DOES know that she's goin...I agree that Olenska DOES know that she's going against society and doesn't care. But she's hiding behind the assumption that she's clueless, and that allows her to get away with behaviors that other people (May for instance) never could.Carin Siegfriedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07278383926500248048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-33151804521545816852011-02-20T09:02:52.911-06:002011-02-20T09:02:52.911-06:00Your comment about society being a main character ...Your comment about society being a main character in the novel is spot on. It's the one character that everyone knows is there, but doesn't want to acknowledge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-66674506662097827522011-02-16T12:27:32.798-06:002011-02-16T12:27:32.798-06:00The many characters introduced in the beginning - ...The many characters introduced in the beginning - and some going by more than one name - really threw me off. As I'm sure it would someone new to New York Society (like Ellen - She's not exactly new, but she had been away for a while). It's like being dragged to a party where you only know the person you showed up with. They have their quirks and inside jokes, they have crazy nicknames for each other and you just try to keep up. Archer's world does seem like one big NYC party, except this time I could cheat by going to Wikipedia and SparkNotes instead of standing around awkwardly after calling Victoria by her nickname that only one person calls her.<br /><br />MelissaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-9555440289075848222011-02-16T10:06:00.671-06:002011-02-16T10:06:00.671-06:00Beth, I also had a difficult time with the amount ...Beth, I also had a difficult time with the amount of characters introduced. Then I got to thinking maybe this is on of Wharton's devices - a way to communicate to the reader just how difficult it is to keep up with Old New York society. Especially in the beginning it seems she introduces characters that have yet to make a reappearance.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-31980946033425001862011-02-16T09:33:07.062-06:002011-02-16T09:33:07.062-06:00This is an excellent discussion of the work. All o...This is an excellent discussion of the work. All of the quotations you included above were in my list of the most important statements of the book thus far. I had a hard time really working out the family trees because there were so many names I felt it muddled in points. The statement you made about the city actually being a character itself is something I didn't even consider, and it's very true. I am especially enamored by your reference to this work being a bit of anthropological observation, as I'm realizing the many facets of society in the United States that I was completely unaware of. I feel through Classic literature, I'm much more aware of how circles moved in other parts of the world. Overall, I'm really happy to be hosting the read-along. Wharton's work is really amazing.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572049077903171939noreply@blogger.com