Summary:
In the film "The Age of Innocence," Newland refused to meet with Ellen because he believed a new encounter could never live up to the memories and feelings of love he had for her in the past.
The ending of the Age of Innocence movie shows that many things have changed in the years that have passed since Ellen left New York and went back to Europe.Newland refused to meet Ellen after all the years that passed by. He explained to his son by saying "It is more real to me here than if I went up, and the fear lest that last shadow of reality should lose its edge kept him rooted to his seat as the minutes succeeded each other." I am going to analyze Newland's quote in this paper and discuss the reasons that made him say it. I will include my point of view about Newland's action. What made him refuse meeting Ellen? It could be the long distance and years apart, change, fear of reality, holding on old memories and is it possible that love live within a person and never fades away.
Newland's tone of voice when he said these words was not happy or sad. His face expression made me think why he didn't go back to Ellen since May is dead, society has completely changed and there is no one to blame anymore. Finally Newland got a chance to be with his true love. In my point of view Newland pushed away the opportunity because he loved all of his memories with her in his younger days. Keeping the lovely memories means a lot more to him than reuniting, and discovering that the long years they've been apart have changed them.
Ellen lived a different life in Europe therefore Newland had this sort of fear in his words when he said "it is more real to me here than if I went up" it's like he's implying that there is something not letting him go upstairs and meet her. A huge force that is holding him back from meeting her and that's love.
Although he have passion towards Ellen Newland refused to meet her not because they may not reunite again, but for the sake of precious memories with her. Newland believed that his memories with Ellen were so wonderful. He kept these memories along the years and meeting her once again wouldn't be as magnificent as his memories. Newland said his words in a way that he doesn't show sorrow and pain in fact he said it in a calm way with a smile. This means that what he has got from Ellen in the old days are enough that he could hold them for a life time.
Newland has never stopped loving Ellen because he recalled her and never forgot the love with her, and he has been thinking about it and lived a dream.Newland lived with Ellen's love in his mind as a dream and it seems that reality doesn't mean a lot to him anymore. The memories of love are sweet and wonderful in his mind, therefore facing reality might destroy the dream he lived in along the passed years. Newland wants to be in his dream land with his dream girl Ellen. Refusing to face reality might be a result of sacrificing their passionate love in their younger days, and Newland was living in a fantasy for the past years.
While Newland sat for a while looking at Ellen's window and remembering the old days he decided to continue his dreams and walk away from reality. Obviously Newland got along with his life as well as Ellen did. They both learned how to live without each other. This made Newland chose to be left with the memory of Ellen and not Ellen herself.
Looking at this situation might be heart breaking in a way, but it seems to me that Newland is happy with the dreams and memories living in his mind. Choosing to live with the desire of wanting his love is a brave thing to do. When a person holds desire in wanting a specific thing he or she would do anything to have it. When this person gets what he wants in his hands he discovers that it's not as wonderful as he thought it would be. I think this works too on Newland's action in refusing to meet Ellen. It's a combination of fear and choosing what's better for him.Newland thought of this action carefully and he won't regret what he did because his dreams are more precious than reality.
What I learned from this quote and situation that Newland's love and passion towards Ellen is so true and deep. You can never stop loving a person but you learn how to continue without him. I also learned that sometimes living in a dream world might be better than facing reality. Running away from reality might be considered as fear but on the other hand living a dream could be valuable and holding onto it is a lot meaningful.
This is the complete article, containing 804 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page).
