The Age of Innocence: Chapters 19-21

"But none ever can happen now, can it, Newland, as long as we two are together?"

Welcome to another week of our slow read of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence.

This week, we kicked off Book 2 of the novel with the event we’ve all been wondering about: Newland and May’s wedding.

Yes, it happened despite all the heart wrenching drama and confessions of deep abiding love between Newland and Ellen — and May’s own hesitations and intense side-eyeing of Newland’s distant behavior.

So, naturally, I’m very curious to know if anyone’s opinions of May or Newland were impacted by the events of these three short, detail-packed chapters in which they marry, honeymoon, and return to New York.

By that I mean to ask: how was your reading of May’s character changed during the opening chapters of Book 2? How was your reading of Newland’s character changed?

Winona Ryder and Daniel Day Lewis as the newly married couple. If you can’t tell from their facial expressions: it’s not going well!