Social Traditions in Medea, The Piano, and The Age of Innocence Essay

Social Traditions in Medea, The Piano, and The Age of InnocenceTraditions test a set of social norms that have been followed and adapted to for an elongated arrive of time. In each(prenominal) of the plots, Medea, The Piano, and The Age of Innocence, the standard set by confederacy was broken and the consequences imposed withalk form in varying degrees and shapes of violence. Whether it was prohibitedright carrying into action as in Medea, or a more subtle however intense struggle as in The Age of Innocence, these consequences serve as the communitys opinion of this breach of its expectations for its members. All societies have many traditions set up, and each of the characters in the books either plays the role of someone who helps to uphold these traditions by future(a) them and imposing consequences on those who dont, or someone who disregards tradition and attempts to point out its pitfalls and shortcomings in modern society. The first role, the psyche who reinforces tradition, is generally someone who refuses to mean outside the box, or does not like the product of going against the tide. This person is comfortable with the way that society has set itself up as utmost as social norms and expectations. Edith Whartons character of Newland Archer describes whitethorn Wellands innocence as a helpless and timorous girlhood...she dropped back into the usual, as a too adventurous child takes refuge in its mothers arms. (Wharton 123) May Welland and her family are rather content living within the boundaries that New York society has erected for them, and they fear the changes and consequences of performing otherwise. The adventurous spirit of Newland Archer is dangerous to their precious social norms and common-law(predicate) rules for how to conduct oneself in society. Howev... ... when his son learns a story of his relations with Ellen and speaks to him close to it many years after (Wharton 41). The lesson that he learns is that society is very touch on with the affairs of its members and even his wife had heard the rumors about the two cousins. spot May was busy upholding her traditional role as faithful wife, she withal was acting within social norms and ignoring his infatuation with her cousin Ellen, and allowing a frontal of a strong marriage to continue. The violence presented in this book, while not as obvious as that in The Piano or Medea, is no less intense. Mays innocent look but underlying manipulation of Archers feelings towards her and his feelings of compact demonstrate a great struggle between the innocent May Welland who looks blankly at blankness and the fiery beauty of Ellen, and both of their desires for Archer.