is holding Lillies of the Valley. In the 1870s the lily of the valley was the flower of chastity and of the names Cynthia and Diana. Later in the book, May is often compared to Diana, the Greek goddess of the hunt. Chapter Two Summary: Newland becomes annoyed as he realizes that everyone is paying attention to the box where his fianc is sitting. He doesnt want the woman to whom he is engaged to be associated with a woman of questionable reputation. The strange woman is Ellen Olenska, a cousin of May. She has a bad reputation because she left her husband and ran off with his secretary. In New York Society, such behavior was not accepted. Newland suddenly wishes to sit next to his girlfriend, as if to protect her from the gossip. He also has a sudden urge to announce their engagement because he wants to distract attention from the foreign woman and place attention on the happy occasion of their engagement. He walks over to their box and is introduced to Ellen. Ellen explains that she remembers being kissed by him when they were little children and that returning to New York reminds her of her childhood. She can "see" everyone in their childhood underpants. Newland does not like her referring to New York society as being "a dear old place." He considers his society to be a grand institution and Ellen seems to be slighting this society. Analysis: Here we see how Newland is fixated with Taste. He is annoyed that his fianc may be associated with a woman of ill-repute; he thinks that Ellens dress is too revealing and that the Mingotts should have not brought her to the Opera. Also interesting in this chapter is the motif of the military: "Form was the mere visible representative and vicegerent of Taste . . ." Thorley "entered the lists" as the ladies champion. Against whom are these members of New York Society mobilizing against?...
