Unrequited Love

                  In the novel The Age of Innocence, the two main characters, Newland Archer and Ellen Olenska, are supposedly in love. Yet, I find that very hard to believe after analyzing the two individuals. I rather believe that Ellen is the only one who truly loves Archer. Archer has never loved Ellen. (Hence the title “Unrequited Love”) Archer convinces himself that he is in love with Ellen throughout the whole novel (which is frankly quite annoying.) But in reality, he actually wishes to control her. He views Ellen as a woman desperately in need of his “wise” guidance because she is not immersed into New York culture. For instance, his jealousy towards Mr. Beaufort indicates his domineering nature. He “[winces] at the joining of the names” of his and Beaufort during a conversation with Ellen because he believes that he is worthy of correcting the Countess(Wharton 65). Also, he is superficially attracted to Countess Olenska because she breaks social conventions and provides excitement. He often states that the “haunting horror of doing the same thing every day at the same time besieged his brain” so Ellen presents herself as a source of freedom and entertainment (71). Therefore, he pursues Ellen passionately and sets up expectations for her. For example, he has this expectation that Ellen will always approach him and entertain him. He depicts this expectation when he goes to fetch Ellen for Mrs. Mingott at New York. He says to himself, “If she doesn't turn before that sail crosses the Lime Rock light I'll go back.” (182). His thought reveals his belief that Ellen is responsible for providing excitement and entertainment for him. Therefore, Archer can be characterized as a selfish man who is unable to love anybody except himself. (In other words, if Archer cares only about himself, how can he have the time and heart to love somebody else?) On the other hand, Ellen deeply loves Archer and is willing to throw away her status for him. Ellen agrees to Archer's plan to “come to [him] at once” despite the scandal they could bring together (264). Also, she is able to convince Archer that he should marry May regardless of her deep desire to be with him. She is willing to sacrifice her own happiness. Furthermore, the ending of the novel supports Ellen's undying love for Archer. She awaits for Archer's visit at Paris because there are no barriers that could separate them anymore. However, Archer's desire to keep “his youthful memory of her” prevents them from reuniting (303). Ellen will most likely realize that Archer never truly loved her which makes her a tragic character. She is spurned by society, her own family, and the man who could have provided her with hope. Maybe Wharton illustrated this aspect of unrequited love because she has experienced it herself. She had a brief but passionate affair with a journalist named Morton Fullerton. Through this passionate affair, she realized that love is often romanticized and misinterpreted by many people. 

I Support Nora's Decision!

              Henrik Ibsen's play “A Doll House” focuses on realistic aspects of life. Ibsen especially plays close attention to marriage. Therefore, the ending where Nora leaves her husband and children illustrates reality regarding marriage. However, some people argue against Nora's decision to leave her family. They believe that Nora is selfish and leaving her children “motherless” (Ibsen 288). Yet, I actually support Nora's decision because she deserves a chance to discover her self- identity. She was “used to [being] Daddy's doll child” so she had no chance to think for herself (1227). In other words, she was a doll who lived in a “home [that] has never been more than a playroom” (1227). Hence, Nora is unable to become a mother to her children because she herself is a lost child. She needs to “make up [her] mind who is right, society or [her]” to fully grow into a mature woman (1229). It would be a greater tragedy if Nora had continued to stay in the “doll house”. Her children would have continued to be her dolls depriving them of reality and individuality. She is essentially preventing the revolving cycle of lost independence for her children. Another thing to recollect is that Nora is “first of all a human being” who has “sacred duties” to herself (1228). She is a selfish, young woman desperately in need of adversity. Through adversity and harsh reality, Nora will learn about the consequences of selfish behavior and lies. In other words, it is time for her to become a true human being not a pretty, frail doll. I believe that Nora's decision to leaver he family will lead her to people who truly care for her. Also, her decision to leave her children might be the first selfless act she has ever done. Finally, I have to point out about the class discussion surrounding Torvald. Many people came to this consensus that Torvald was going to change. I reject this idea because Torvald does not truly care for Nora. (He barely even notices his own children.) He states that Nora “[has] ruined all [his] happiness” and that his love for her is all in the past when she finds about the forgery(1223). Torvald keeps using words “me” and “my” revealing his indifference for Nora's suffering and his selfish nature. Also, he is easily able to throw away his love for Nora because his appearance is in stake. Torvald seems to only love Nora because of her role as a submissive and beautiful wife. Therefore, he rejects Nora when he realizes that Nora took on the role as a dominant figure. She was the one who saved his life and made the controversial decision to leave her family. Torvald will most likely not change because he is so immersed into the gender role of being the patriarch of his family. He is essentially the product of society. I am certain that he will remarry another woman who will submit to his controlling nature continuing the cycle of gender inequality.  

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Lately in class, we have been employing gender lens to analyze The Age of Innocence and a “Doll House”. Therefore, I thought it would be interesting to analyze Maya Angelou's “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”. The poem focuses on a caged bird that sings for freedom. The caged bird can be viewed as a representation of social issues such as racial inequality, gender inequality, and the pursuit of individuality. Since we have focused on gender roles, I will be reading this poem through the gender roles. I view the “bird that stalks/down his narrow cage” as a woman trapped in marriage (Line 8-9). The woman is trapped in a cage that symbolizes marriage so she “opens [her] throat to sing” for freedom (line 14). Nora from the “Doll House” closely relates to this bird as well. She often tells lies to somehow escape her role as a doll in her husband's doll house, her captor. Also, the bird's “wings are clipped and/[its] feet are tied” which resembles Nora's situation in her marriage (Line 12-13). Nora's opinion and identity represent the bird's wings and feet. Nora is unable to think for herself preventing her from individuality and independence. Hence, her opinions are “clipped and/[her] identity [is] tied” by her role as a submissive wife (Line 12-13). Another female character relates to the caged bird as well. Ellen Olenska of The Age of Innocence serves as an epitome of a caged bird and captor to society. She is essentially a woman trapped in this expectation that she will become a mistress to a married man(Beaufort especially) or return to her unfaithful husband. Therefore, she “opens [her] throat to sing” like the bird by falling in love with Newland Archer (Line 14). Newland Archer represents to Ellen as a door to “freedom” because he understands her like nobody else (Line 23). He has the ability to convince Ellen “to claim the sky” by allowing her to become a “free bird” (Line 1 and 7). Unfortunately, Archer fails to do so which leads to “the caged bird/ [to] sing of freedom” on the distant hill (Line 38-40). However, the caged bird can also be interpreted as a man imprisoned by gender roles. For example, Newland Archer is a “bird that stalks down his narrow cage” to express his horror on the “sameness-sameness” of life (Wharton 71). The “narrow cage” that he inhabits is his marriage to May Welland, a woman who conforms to society (Line 9). Archer feels suffocated in his dull life that is a repeating cycle of life. Also, he is horrified by the fact that his own wife must conceal her inner desires and passion to blend in with the Old New York society. It can be inferred that the caged bird can be anyone regardless of gender. Also, our society is filled with several 'caged birds” who sing for freedom (Line 38). For instance, adolescents often express their need for freedom and independence by rebelling. (I know this for a fact.)