Status Updates From عصر البراءة

Ellen holds out her hand and expects Newland to hold it. He does not. She invites him to come see her. He is stunned. He is glad he is marrying a New Yorker like him (more pride). No New York woman would be out walking with the likes of Julius Beaufort nor would she invite a just-engaged man to visit her.

Granny and Beautfort have a lot in common. They were once poor and came from obscure backgrounds. They are now wealthy and they can afford to live by their own scruples and not live by the convention of others. They are both good at cutting to the chase. In the hall when May and her mom are putting on their furs, Newland apologizes to Ellen for not telling her about their engagement. She gently chides them.

The door opens and in walks Ellen with Julius Beaufort! The scandal! Granny calls him by his last week (much like Augusta Elton in Emma<\i>. He bumped into Ellen at Madison Square and he escorted her home. Granny begs him to sit down and gossip with her. She wants him to tell her about Mrs. Lemuel Struthers, the widow of a shoe-polish magnate (new money). Granny approves of this, of course.

Mrs. Welland remarks on how sparse the sapphire looks all by itself, but Granny comments that a cameo set in pearls worked in her day. Granny notices how large May’s hands are (sports) and how small her own hand which honestly means nothing if you are the size of a whale. She’s just glad her skin is white. When asked about a date, Newland says ASAP and Granny suggests before Lent in case she dies of pneumonia.

Newland is amused to imagine Catherine living out the life in French novels that explore adultery versus duty. On the one hand they are relived that Ellen is not there. On the other, she’s out in broad daylight during shoppping hour for all to see. No shadow of her unhappy past can mar their radiant future. Catherine is delighted. She admires the large saphire on the engagement ring.

The description of Catherine the GREAT is hilarious. Her girth prevents her from going upstairs so her bedrooms are downstairs which is not as shocking as it could be. In novels, some women with bad reputations have their bedroom downstairs so they are harder to catch in the act. Granny has such a spotless reputation that the thought of being naughty never occurs to her. If she wanted a man, she would have him.

An interesting introduction to the glittering society of Wharton’s New York and characters so far.

Ch. 4 They follow the betrothal convention. The groom and family visits the bride and family. Then the bride, groom, and family visit Granny Mingott (Catherine the GREAT) for her blessing. Newland finds her amusing. Her home is not as venerable as older houses and reflect different tastes (Second Frend Empire). She lived like a queen and believed in her fiber that people would come to see her even with poor food.

“Love Triumphant” Ch. 1 to “Love Victorious” Ch. 3 Hmm........

He calls her angel and promises to do so. Is she the angel of the house? He looks around to spot Ellen but May explains why she did not come, overlooking the obvious, which cannot be said, even thought both know why. She chooses to ignore the “unpleasant” which pleases him. He promises to do the same concerning Ellen’s soiled reputation. What a great chapter! I hope I am seeing the imagery correctly.

His cup of bliss overflows--sacred language. When he kissed her, one of the lily of the valley broke away from the bouquet. This is a mountain top experience for “the world lay like a sunlit valley at their feet.” She mentions Ellen’s name and I wonder if that is the serpent entering into paradise. Then he lies to her about why he didn’t tell Ellen about their engagement! She explains why it is important to her.

The Latin name for lily of the valley means MAY! It’s almost like he feels guilty for his dalliance and her purity will save him. Being engaged was to him grave and sacramental. May (whiteness, radiance, goodness) would give him new life! WOW! He takes her to the conservatory for an emotional moment and there really does seem to be warmth and affection between them. Is this Adam and Eve in paradise? TREE-fern!

It’s interesting watery imagery is linked to his deep joy but the surface is no longer pure. It’s blurred by having to announce publicly at a ball because of poor Ellen. It’s like he did a dive in which the diver goes deep but there’s hardly any splash. He grabs her by the waist and they float away on the waves of the Blue Danube (which is actually green). So, they are crossing the water. Is this death imagery?

The nude is “Love Victorious” but it is unclear if it is contemporary or Caravaggio. The title is very suggestive because this is the night of their betrothal: on public display, in a false paradise, in a place that is clearly a facade. The women are dressed like peacocks where as May is the picture of innocence with her lilies of the valley bouquet. Archer watches as she announces her news to her ladies in waiting.

'What could he [Newland] and she [May] really know of each other, since it was his duty, as a 'decent' fellow, to conceal his past from her, and hers, as a marriageable girl, to have no past to conceal?'

I find camellias interesting. Their leaves are evergreen. They have the colors of alchemy: red or pink petals with a golden eye (sometimes showing and sometimes hidden). They bloom in the winter! I wonder! Everything with him is false (I suspect). So this whole facade could be a false paradise. Even when Newland shows up, his fine eye for art sees the gaudiness of the footmen in silk stockings and the nude paintings.

Beaufort creates an air of extravagance. He owns the red carpet, footmen, and gilted chairs. He does not rent. He believes every woman has a maid to do her hair properly so it does not need to be touched upon arrival. The ballroom was planned into the house, not an afterthough. What blows my mind is that the colors are all alchemy! In the conservatory is a GARDEN (camellias and tree ferns). Is that intentional?

Entertaining with extravagance caused New Yorkers to place great confidence in Beaufort. I think names mean things. Beaufort conveys a sense of beauty, strength, and prestige so his name gives people a shot of confidence, too. In spite of all the rumors and gossip about his mysterious origin, he stands strong. His wife leaves during the Jewel song which is about a mirror and metamorphsis from being common to royalty.

Mrs. Beaufort’s nature is indolent and passive (a bit like Edmund’s mother in Mansfield Park). Somehow things get done in that household and there is not busybody Mrs. Norris or house elves to handle things. Some believe that Mr. Beaufort is the brains of the operation except that he acts like the casual millionaire and he gives her all the credit. Of course, it could be the trope about southerners being dumb.

His wife was a penniless beauty from South Carolina but related to the Rushworths (hahaha) and Mansons and rushed into marriage with the sketchy Julius Beaufort. He showed up from England with letters of introduction and recommendation from an English banker that one of the Mansons had married. He is not even charming so marrying him seemed like a typical foolish Rushworth move.