Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence

Edith Wharton was one of the best thinkers of her time. Not only did she criticize the society in which she grew up, but she did so in such a way that made it classy and more acceptable. The Age of Innocence is one of my favorite pieces of literature because Edith Wharton uses setting combined with complex characters to develop her personal theme of the conflict between nature and culture. Wharton's use of setting …

…conflict between culture and nature. Her use of Old New York as a backdrop for her story gives a reader insight into Wharton's own childhood. Also, Wharton uses ideas of immortality, contrasting positions and supporting roles to intensify the complex characters in The Age of Innocence. Her works continue to excite, sadden, enrage and often intrigue many readers and will continue to do so for what I hope will be many, many years to come.