The Cost of Duty ove

Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence reveals the quiet tragedy of a man imprisoned by society's rules. Newland Archer, trapped in New York's elite world, must choose between his duty to his innocent fiancée, May, and his passionate love for the unconventional Countess Olenska. The novel’s power lies in its portrayal of how this rigid society crushes true feeling. Everyone, even the seemingly naive May, becomes an enforcer of its strict codes. In the end, Archer submits to duty, living a life of safe but deep regret. This story is a timeless critique of conformity. Wharton shows that the truest battles are often silent, fought not for love, but for the approval of a world that values appearance above all. It remains a poignant lesson on the high price of sacrificing one's heart for social acceptance.