The Age of Innocence · Chapter
XXXIII explained
Newland and May Archer host a farewell dinner for Ellen Olenska, who is about to sail for Europe.
What happens
Newland and May Archer host a farewell dinner for Ellen Olenska, who is about to sail for Europe. The evening is a carefully orchestrated social performance, with New York society rallying around Ellen to demonstrate their unalterable affection now that she is leaving. Newland, tormented by his love for Ellen and the realization that May and their circle believe him to be Ellen's lover, struggles with his desire to follow her. The chapter culminates in Ellen's departure, leaving Newland resolved to pursue her.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Moral Duality
Society publicly celebrates Ellen while privately believing she is Newland's lover; the dinner is a performance of unity masking underlying scandal.
Illusion vs. Reality
Newland sees through the 'tissue of elaborate mutual dissimulation' and recognizes the gap between social appearances and true feelings.
Sacrifice and Renunciation
Ellen's departure for Europe represents her renunciation of Newland; Newland contemplates sacrificing his marriage to follow her.
Characters to notice
- Newland Archer
Hosts the farewell dinner; realizes May and society believe him to be Ellen's lover; resolves to follow Ellen to Europe.
- May Welland
Organizes the farewell dinner for Ellen; shows triumphant awareness of her social victory; confronts Newland with her knowledge.
- Ellen Olenska
Guest of honor at the farewell dinner; pale and subdued; announces she is sailing on the Russia; departs for Europe.
- Mrs. Archer
Assists with the dinner preparations, writing menus and checking the guest list.
- Mrs. Welland
Supervises the decoration of the drawing-room and approves of the farewell dinner.
- Mrs. van der Luyden
Attends the dinner; accepts being placed on the host's left to emphasize Ellen's foreignness.
Key passages
“The silent organisation which held his little world together was determined to put itself on record as never for a moment having questioned the propriety of Madame Olenska's conduct, or the completeness of Archer's domestic felicity.”
New York society was collectively pretending that they had never doubted Ellen's behavior or Archer's happy marriage.
Highlights the theme of hypocrisy and social performance.
“He caught the glitter of victory in his wife's eyes, and for the first time understood that she shared the belief.”
Newland realized that May also believed he was Ellen's lover and felt triumphant about it.
Key moment of Newland's realization about May's awareness.
“All the beauty that had forsaken her face seemed to have taken refuge in the long pale fingers and faintly dimpled knuckles on his sleeve.”
Ellen's hand, resting on his arm, seemed to hold all the beauty that her face had lost.
Illustrates Newland's intense focus on Ellen's physical presence.