In the novel “The Age of Innocence” written by Edith Wharton, it tells a story about life in the 1870s, in New York and follows a main character named Newland Archer who exemplifies the culture the city holds. Throughout the novel the narrator, whom is a limited omniscient narrator, introduces and explores the many different families living in the city, who make the society what it is with the way in which they go about doing things and their certain opinions. The author’s use of this type of narrator gives the story a unique style, where it is told from the main character, Newland Archer’s perspective; however, he is not actually the narrator. With the use of a third person narrative point of view, Edith Wharton is able to develop the society…show more content… The most prominent one being the thoughts and opinions of Archers wife May. While the direct thoughts of Archer are stated, only the dialogue is given from May, which only gives the reader some insight into what her views are. The main way in which May’s thoughts are revealed is through the main character or the narrator’s opinions. One of the significant points that Archer explains through out the whole novel is that May is a product of the society; however it is not Archer who says it specifically, but the details the narrator gives in order for the reader to understand that she is. In this chapter, Archer ponders if May were to actually speak the truth or how she feels instead of confiding most of her feelings. “If May had spoken out her grievances (he suspected her of many) he might have laughed them away; but she was trained to conceal imaginary wounds under a Spartan smile” (Wharton 206). In this quote, the author uses visual imagery to convey how May has been built to function as the society she lives in does. When the narrator states, “but she was trained to conceal imaginary wounds under a Spartan smile”, Archer himself realizes that she doesn’t always express her feelings or say what is on her mind, she conceals them. When saying this the narrator uses imagery by saying “Spartan smile”, he is comparing her to a Spartan. Spartans resemble simplicity and discipline, which strongly relate to the society Archer and May live in. This shows that May has been built into a certain kind of person due to way that her parents believe she should be raised because of how the society operates. The limited omniscient narrative provides a way into understanding May with Archer’s thoughts and furthermore gives light to the culture they were brought up
