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

Social Traditions in Medea, The Piano, and The Age of whiteTraditions demonstrate a nail down of well-disposed norms that have been followed and adapted to for an extended amount of time. In each of the plots, Medea, The Piano, and The Age of Innocence, the standard set by society was broken and the consequences imposed took form in varying degrees and shapes of violence. Whether it was at once murder as in Medea, or a more astute but intense struggle as in The Age of Innocence, these consequences help 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 following them and imposing consequences on those who dont, or someone who disregards tradition and attempts to bakshish out its pitfalls and shortcomings in modern society. The first role, the person who reinforces tradition, is generally some one who refuses to think outside the box, or does not like the product of personnel casualty against the tide. This person is comfortable with the way that society has set itself up as far as social norms and expectations. Edith Whartons character of Newland Archer describes May Wellands artlessness 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 ar quite content living within the boundaries that New York society has erected for them, and they revere the changes and consequences of acting otherwise. The adventurous spirit of Newland Archer is dangerous to their precious social norms and unwritten rules for how to conduct oneself in society. Howev... ... when his son learns a story of his traffic with Ellen and speaks to him about it many years after (Wharton 41). The lesson that he learns is that society is truly concerned with the affairs of its members and even his wife had heard the rumors about the devil cousins. While May was busy upholding her traditional role as true wife, she also was acting within social norms and ignoring his infatuation with her cousin Ellen, and allowing a facade of a strong marriage to continue. The violence presented in this book, piece not as obvious as that in The Piano or Medea, is no less intense. Mays impoverished look but underlying exercise of Archers feelings towards her and his feelings of obligation 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.