# VII explained — The Age of Innocence

> Chapter companion for The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

## What happens

Newland Archer and his mother visit the van der Luydens to seek their intervention after the Lawrence Leffertses snub Countess Olenska by declining to attend a dinner in her honor. The van der Luydens, as the ultimate social arbiters of old New York, decide to extend their own invitation to Ellen Olenska for a dinner welcoming the Duke of St. Austrey, thereby publicly endorsing her and countering the slight.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Moral Duality

Lawrence Lefferts is exposed as a hypocrite who publicly condemns Ellen Olenska to cover his own extramarital affairs, illustrating the double standards of society.

### Class and Social Hierarchy

The van der Luydens' intervention demonstrates the rigid social hierarchy and the power of elite families to enforce or overturn social judgments.

### Tradition vs. Change

The chapter contrasts the old guard's adherence to tradition (the van der Luydens' secluded, formal lifestyle) with the emerging challenges to social norms represented by Ellen Olenska's situation.

## Character check-ins

### Newland Archer

Accompanies his mother to the van der Luydens to report the Leffertses' snub of Ellen Olenska and to seek their social endorsement.

### Mrs. Archer

Narrates the affront to Mrs. van der Luyden and advocates for the family's intervention on behalf of Countess Olenska.

### Henry van der Luyden

The solemn arbiter of New York society who, after consultation with his wife, decides to invite Ellen Olenska to their dinner for the Duke of St. Austrey.

### Mrs. van der Luyden

Listens silently to Mrs. Archer's story and calls for her husband, ultimately supporting the plan to include Countess Olenska in their social event.

### Ellen Olenska

The subject of the social controversy; the van der Luydens decide to publicly support her by inviting her to their dinner.

### Lawrence Lefferts

Identified by Newland as the instigator of the snub against Ellen Olenska, using it to deflect attention from his own indiscretions.

## Key lines

> “It is the principle that I dislike,” said Mr. van der Luyden. “As long as a member of a well-known family is backed up by that family it should be considered⁠—final.”

Mr. van der Luyden asserts that family loyalty should be the ultimate determinant of social standing.

_This statement encapsulates the social code of old New York, where family backing is paramount._

> “He’s simply using Madame Olenska as a lightning-rod; I’ve seen him try the same thing often before.”

Newland accuses Lawrence Lefferts of using Ellen Olenska as a scapegoat to divert attention from his own moral failings.

_This reveals the hypocrisy and manipulation underlying the social snub._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters