# III explained — The Age of Innocence > Chapter companion for The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. ## What happens At the Beauforts' annual ball, Newland Archer arrives late and finds May Welland and her mother announcing their engagement. He dances with May, and they share a private moment in the conservatory. May asks him to tell her cousin Ellen Olenska about the engagement, but Ellen decided not to attend the ball at the last minute, ostensibly because her dress was not smart enough. ## Themes in this chapter ### Class and Social Hierarchy The Beauforts' social position is precarious due to Julius Beaufort's mysterious past, yet their wealth and style secure their place among the elite. The chapter highlights the importance of appearances and social rituals. ### Hypocrisy and Moral Duality New York society tolerates Beaufort's questionable background because of his lavish entertaining, while shunning Ellen Olenska for her marital scandal. Newland reflects on the 'ritual of ignoring the unpleasant'. ### Illusion vs. Reality The engagement is announced at a ball, blurring the private joy with public spectacle. May and Newland both wish for a purer expression of their love, but are constrained by social expectations. ## Character check-ins ### Newland Archer Arrives late at the Beaufort ball, nervous about the Mingotts possibly bringing Ellen Olenska. He dances with May, announces their engagement, and kisses her in the conservatory. ### May Welland Announces her engagement at the ball, dances with Newland, and asks him to tell Ellen Olenska about the engagement. She shows sensitivity to Ellen's feelings. ### Ellen Olenska Decides at the last minute not to attend the Beaufort ball, claiming her dress was not smart enough, though the real reason is likely social pressure. ### Julius Beaufort Host of the annual ball; described as having a mysterious past but successfully running the household and entertaining New York society. ### Mrs. Julius Beaufort Hostess of the ball, appears at the Opera before the ball. Described as beautiful, indolent, and passive, but with a distinguished house. ### Mrs. Welland Stands slightly apart as May announces her engagement, shedding a beam of qualified approval. ## Key lines > It invariably happened in the same way. Mrs. Julius Beaufort, on the night of her annual ball, never failed to appear at the Opera; indeed, she always gave her ball on an Opera night in order to emphasise her complete superiority to household cares, and her possession of a staff of servants competent to organise every detail of the entertainment in her absence. Mrs. Beaufort always attended the Opera on the night of her ball to show she didn't have to worry about preparations because her servants handled everything. _Highlights the social ritual and the Beauforts' display of wealth and control._ > To proclaim it in the heat and noise of a crowded ballroom was to rob it of the fine bloom of privacy which should belong to things nearest the heart. Announcing the engagement in a noisy ballroom took away the private, intimate quality that such a personal moment should have. _Reflects Newland's desire for authenticity versus social performance._ > She knows as well as I do, the real reason of her cousin's staying away; but I shall never let her see by the least sign that I am conscious of there being a shadow of a shade on poor Ellen Olenska's reputation. May understands why Ellen didn't come, but Newland is determined to pretend he doesn't notice any stain on her reputation. _Illustrates the theme of hypocrisy and the social code of ignoring unpleasant truths._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/iii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters