Diana and Sirens in The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence alludes to many Greek mythological creatures that have an important role in the novel. Ellen Olenska, the black sheep in the society of New York, is a catalyst for the shift in Newland Archer's viewpoint about Old New York. It is interesting to note that Wharton actaully alludes to the Siren Isle from Greek mythology. In their mythology, the Sirens were hybrid creatures-part woman and part bird- who lured sailors with seductive song to shipwreck on their island. They are generally associated with temptation and are incredibly dangerous. I believe that Countess Olenska embodies this dark creature in the story. For example, she seems to be bird like in the way that she wears "eagle feathers" to the van der Luyden's reception and lives in an area where some of her neighbors are "bird-stuffers". Not only this, she seems to be a temptation for adventure and release from routine for Newland Archer. During the conversation Newland and Ellen are having in her room at the beginning of the novel, Ellen analyses the van der Luydens and their "great influence" and Newland reacts with words such as "penetration", "pricked", and "stroke". This sensual diction indicated the almost sex like temptation that Newland has for Ellen at the beginning of the text. Her lack of social conformity and departure from routine also seem to be a temptation for Archer. For example, Archer is "drawn into the atmosphere of the room, which was her atmosphere". The fact that Archer is drawn in to the atmosphere portrays the almost magical temptation and control that Ellen has on Archer. Through this allusion, Wharton could be foreshadowing a potential fate of Archer's.

May Welland seems to represent the Greek mythological creature known as Diana. For example, when both May and Archer are talking about getting married early she begins to show her individualism and had a "face [that ] had taken on a look of such tragic courage that he felt like bowing himself down at her feet". This is one of the first times that May shows her own opinions, which is why Archer is so awestruck and feels the need to literally bow down to her as if she controls him. This represents the inferiority he feels towards her at the time. Diana is known to be the goddess of the hunt and has the power to talk to and control animals. This controlling effect is seen again when May tells Archer that she is pregnant and her "blue eyes were wet with victory". Archer decides to live with her, imprisoned, for the next 25 years. It seems as though both Ellen and May have this controlling effect. For example, Archer goes on to say to Ellen, "I'll say anything you like; or nothing, I won't open my mouth unless you tell me to. What harm can it do to anybody? All I want is to listen to you."Both Ellen and May are creatures that contribute towards the confliction Archer undergoes throughout the text.