The Second Book

  The second book I've read here in Brighton is The Age of Innocence which was written by Edith Wharton. It is about a love story that took place in the 1970s.

     Newland Archer loves two women at the same time. One is his fiancee May and the other is May's cousin Ellen.

  The relationship among these three young people is very complicated. Newland is a lawyer who grows up in a very traditional family and society . He loves May a lot and is looking forward to marry her. Ellen has a quite unfortunate marriage with a man who is of noble birth. But the man doesn't love Ellen at all, he just wants her to be his wife and stays with him like one of his furnitures in his luxurious house. Ellen gets tired of this kind of life and then she decides to run away from her husband and his family . She goes back to her hometown New York.

    Of course , May and her family have a welcome meeting for Ellen. During that time, Newland knows Ellen and soon falls in love with the uninhibited woman. However , Newland's thought is under restrictions of traditional concept , he still gets married to May. At the same time , he tries his best to keep in touch with Ellen and they enjoy some joyful time together.

     Finally , the special relationship between Newland and Ellen is over because May has a baby. Newland takes the responsbility of his wife and sons.

    At the end of the story , Old Newland sits down on the bench and continues to look up at the balcony and the windows of Ellen's for a very long time. He eventually stands up slowly and walks back alone to his hotel.

     After reading this story , I felt a little bit sad because of the last scene. I can imagine how afflictive Newland would be .But I have to say sorry to May . What a pity woman ! She knows everything but she still chooses to accept and forget for that she loves Newland so much.

     What an impressive book !