;s company said that what she was doing was wrong. Yet Archer said, “Why shouldn’t she be conspicuous if she chooses? She made an awful marriage. But should she hide her head as if it’s her fault?” If this is how he felt, he should have given up his engagement of convenience, right? For many, the answer to this would be yes. Yet for Archer, things were not that easy. Even though the legislature supported divorce, society didn’t. Both Ellen and Archer would be social outcasts; which at the time, was something that was devastating.In the end, tradition won over Archer; but this didn’t stop the passion between himself and the Countess. It was hard on both of them to see each other, so they avoided each other like the plague. Archer was a faithful husband and father, proving that perhaps one can disregard true love. Archer was not strong enough to break free from tradition in order to seek out a life with his true love. Even so, the conflict still burned on in his heart whenever he saw Ellen. After Mae’s death, when given the chance to see Ellen again, he walks away yet again.In a time of moral values and traditions, it was hard to break free from society’s views. This is shown in the film The Age of Innocence with the affair between Archer and Ellen. Through Archer’s eyes, the viewer can truly see what a gut-wrenching experience this could be. Although tradition does win in the end, it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a hard struggle that continues after the final decision is made....
