Countless Olenska And Archers By Edith Wharton: An Analysis

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As Newland Archer went back to the club and sat by himself in the stranded library, he continues to thinking about his time with May's cousin Countless Olenska. He also ponders on the thought of her returning back to Europe and "it was clear to him and it grew clearer under close scrutiny, that is he should finally decide on returning to Europe it would be because her old life tempted her, even on the new terms offered. No: she felt herself becoming a temptation to Archer, a temptation to fall away from the standard they had both set up. Her choice would be to say near him as long as he did not ask her to come nearer; and it depend on himself to keep her to just there, safe but selected" (Wharton, 246). The passage describes that both Countless …show more content…

Rather than focusing on the images society put on them, Countless Olenska and Archer place their attention on just themselves. Countless Olenska would sacrifice going back to Europe for Archer, not taking account of anyone else thoughts. By Countless Olenska staying, the temptation would only grow between them, therefore establishing a standard not only would benefit themselves, but also society. This is is because Archers would conform to the morals and standards that are put into place by society. Although he does not believe this is the right thing to do, it is what his family and society want. While Sherman McCoy is talking to Killian, Sherman says, "You've never been, throughout anything like this. I don't doubt that you've seen a lot of it, but you've never been through it, I can't explain the feeling. All I can tell you is that I'm already dead, or the Sherman McCoy of the McCoy family and Yale and Park Avenue and Wall Street is dead. Your self - I don't know how to explain …show more content…

While Sherman is having the affair with Maria, there is no thought that his wife Judy would leave him. Sherman has the image of himself as "the Master of the Universe", which gives off the impression that he is able to do whatever he pleases without any consequences. Sherman is taught to love himself which goes a little too far and he thinks he should indulge every whim. Sherman keeps wanting more, but it will never be enough to satisfy his sense of entitlement. By acting superior over everyone, even his wife refuses to be by his side while he goes through his trial and jail time. When in need, the most important person in his life is not showing sympathy or helping him while he is being destroyed. Judy and Sherman eventually separate after the scandal, but he continues to try to win her back. As Sherman was lying in bed realizing that he was going to be put in jail, he wanted Judy next to him and "he would have put his arms around her and held on for dear life. He wanted to embrace her, longed for it “(Wolfe, 427). Sherman is finally realizing that he should have never took advantage of Judy by having a mistress, but since he was the "Master of the Universe" , he had anything what at his fingertips. Before Sherman was charged with the crime, he never needed Judy, but after Maria led the police to believe that the crime was Sherman's fault, he realizes that Judy was a true women that he took

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