纯真年代英文读后感

The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence is a novel by Edith Wharton. The story was happened in New York City's upper class in the 1870s, and told us a story of love triangle.

One major character of this story, Newland Archer is a young, popular, successful lawyer. Before he meets Ellen Olenska, his life has never changed, and always has been filled with the old culture and customs of the old society. Ellen makes him find the new and wrong things in upper class. At one time, Newland had lost himself in his love to Ellen and wanted to elope with her. But after his wife’s pregnancy, Newland still surrenders to the society, find the “right” way to continue his own lift, and never out of loyalty to their marriage.

Well, in the beginning of the story, Ellen has fled from her unhappy marriage, and has returned to America. She fell in love with Newland. However, because of she love he, Ellen drives an important decision. When she has heard the May's pregnancy, she immediately decides to disappear from his life and leave America.

In my opinion, Ellen is a typical rebel of that society; she doesn’t know all the rules of Old New York’s upper-class. And, she hates all things in a boring life; the most important one is a marriage without love. However, those rules destined the impossibility between she and Newland’s love. They can't get rid of the bondage of the society, their love also have no place to survival. In a word, they think and consideration too much for each other. At last, they will miss each other.

Another major character of this story, May Welland is different from the above two person. She is a great model of upper class. She smile all the time, always know what to do and how to do. At first, she follows and obeys and engaged to Newland. After the marriage, when she suspects Newland is Ellen's lover, May has always pretends to be happy before society. She always knew that her husband love with others, but She loves her husband. In the end she has used her unborn kid to keep her husband. May always think she will win in this love battle because of the whole society behind her.

After reading this novel, I think that the poorest man is Newland. He

can’t follow his own heart to love the woman which he loves. He must be observing the rules of society. If he becomes like Ellen, he will lose everything that he has built his own foundations in upper class in New York. In the end, he is neither, nor is he himself. However, under this society, they are all victims, not only Newland but also May and Ellen. This is the biggest tragedy in the 1870s’ New York.

Well, in the end of novel, Newland just look at the window and never go to upstairs. Young Ellen smiling in his memory. Then he finally realizes he always keep his best memory in the deep of his own heart. The love between him and Ellen is a kind of spirit and soul love. This kind of love will never disappear forever.