CAPITOL UNIVERSITY

Corrales- Osmena Extension, Cagayan de Oro City

School Year 2016- 2017

THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF
EDITH WHARTON’S
“THE AGE OF INNOCENCE”
AND
PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ’S
“DEAD STARS”
In Partial Fulfilment on the Course Requirement of
ENGLISH LITERATURE

Submitted by:

Estella M. Ibaoc
MAED- English I

Submitted to:
Ramir PJ V. Sonsona, DALC
 INTRODUCTION

The Age of Innocence was published in 1920 written by Edith Wharton. She

wanted to understand what happens if a society refuses to abandon its littleness and

innocence and expose itself to the big and bad world. She often describes New York as

little like of the capacity of a nutshell or the feeling of being inside a tight straightjacket.

This novel looks into how innocence can have the appearance of purity and goodness

but it has its own special kind of cruelty as well.

On the other hand, Paz Marquez- Benitez was a Filipina short- story writer in

Lucena City. She authored the first Filipino modern English Language story, Dead Stars

published in the Philippine Herald in 1925. Her writing reflects the time in which the

literary work was written along with the language, norms and the way people think. In

order to conform to all these things it would require sacrificing a part of the emotion,

opinion and decision.

This paper will show how these two literary works written by magnificent authors

existed in different times and places would draw similarities. The thematic approach will

be used to present the similarities of these literary pieces.

I. PLOT SUMMARY

“The Age of Innocence”

Edith Wharton

All of the New York’s society gathered one evening in January for a production of

Gounod’s opera Faust including Newland Archer who is soon to be married to pretty
May Welland. The appearance of Countess Ellen Olenska, who is separated from her

husband causes a stir in New York City and turns Archer’s world upside down. As

weeks passed by, Archer finds himself attracted to Countess Olenska. In an effort to get

over his attraction, he flees to Florida and persuades May to speed up their wedding

date. Upon returning to New York, he still can’t get rid of the attraction he has for

Olenska and so he confided but he was rejected by the Countess.

Newland and May get married when the parents agreed to shortened the

engagement period. They settled in their married life and Olenska left for Washington.

But that summer while Newland Archer is on vacation in New Port, Rhode Island he

meet again the Countess. There they decided to consummate their love. When he

decided to leave his wife and live with Olenska, May announces her pregnancy. This is

the reason why they can’t be together with Ellen Olenska and decided to stay with his

wife.

Twenty- six later, Newland and May had three children all grown-up and May

died. Newland’s son Dallas invites him to Europe with him. His son wanted to have a

father- son bonding at Countess Olenska’s place. When they arrived at her home,

Newland decides not to join his son and returns to the hotel without having seen her.

“Dead Stars”

Paz Marquez- Benitez

Alfredo Salazar is soon to be married to his long- time girlfriend, Esperanza.

However, the sudden came of Julia Salas, change his warm feeling to his fiancée’. He

began to admire Julia for being charming and gleeful. At first, he didn’t notice the
change of his heart taking form. He started to hide his activities and keeping details

from Esparanza. When Julia was about to go back to her distant hometown, he felt very

sad and blue. He met her at church and conversed with her even for a fact that

Esperanza was already waiting for him. Then, they departed.

When Alfredo visited Esperanza at her house, he overheard conversation of

infidelity and immorality. She knew already about the romance he had with Julia and

dared him to leave her. However, due to society’s values and norms, he dared not.

Eventually, the wedding took place. After several years, Alfredo was assigned to

a villa near Julia’s hometown for legal purposes. It bothered him a lot because he

wanted to see Julia. And then he found himself making his way to Julia’ house. He

found her there. She never married. Alfredo thought of what life could be if he chose

Julia. He noticed that something is lost from Julia’s eyes. The spark he once saw in her

eyes was gone. Indeed, it was all done.

II. DISCUSSION and ANALYSIS

These two literary pieces were chosen because of the fact that they shared

similar themes. These two works are closely related with each other. In addition,

both of the literary pieces were written by two extraordinary women. Moreover, both

of these women reflect on the society’s issues in their written works. A table is

shown to see the similarities of the two literary works using themes of the stories.
 THE THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF

“THE AGE OF INNOCENCE” AND “DEAD STARS”

THEMES The Age of Innocence Dead Stars

1920 1925

LOVE

a. Forgiving  This is in relation to May  This is on the part of

Love Welland’s love for Esperanza that she still

Newland Archer. Even if pushes through the

she knew the fact that wedding despite the

Archer has an attraction fact that Alfredo

to another woman still Salazar has an

she accepted him to be admiration for Julia

her husband. Salas.

b. Forbidden  This is the relationship of  This is on Alfredo

Love Archer Newland and Salazar having feeling

Ellen Olenska. for Julia Salas despite

the fact the he is about

to be married to

Esperanza.

c. Sacrificial  This is on the part that  This is on the part of

Love Ellen Olenska cut her Julia Salas, upon

relationship with Archer knowing that Alfredo

because of the fact that Salazar is about to

 in the very start, it is marry Esperanza, she

wrong. And when she gave up her feelings.

knew about the She decided to go

pregnancy of May, she back to her hometown

gave up the romance and congratulated

between her and Archer Alfredo for the

and decided to go away. approaching wedding.

DISSATISFACTION  Newland Archer  Alfredo Salazar was

(Infidelity) although soon to be betrothed to his long-

married to May Welland time girlfriend

is attracted to another Esperanza, had an

woman by the name of attraction to a

Ellen Olenska. He even charming Julia Salas.

thought of leaving his He kept details and

fiancée. Sometimes, in a activities from his soon

men’s life, they feel to be wife just to see

dissatisfied with their Julia.

partner. They tend to  Alfredo has seen from

look for another woman Julia the characteristics

that arouse their interest that Esperanza lacked.

and they thought can He felt dissatisfied of

satisfy what they feel is the characteristics that

lacking from their can be found from

 partner. Esperanza and has

found it from another

woman.

DUTY AND  Ellen Olenska is  For the sake of image

RESPONSIBILTY IN separated from her in the society, they

THE SOCIETY husband. This issue pushed through the

made the people of New wedding. They care

York look at her as if she what might people say

is an immoral woman. if he will break the

They believe that it is engagement.

wrong for a wife to  Infidelity and

divorce her husband. As immorality are not

a wife, she should act good in the face of the

what a wife is expected society even if the man

to do. She should not or woman is still about

allow broken relationship to be married. When

with her husband no people already knew

matter what the reason their wedding plans,

is. they have to do their

duty or responsibility to

 Newland Archer married their partner, family

May Welland out of duty and society. That is

to preserve their family’s what happened to

 honor. Alfredo Salazar and

 Upon knowing that May Esperanza because

Welland is pregnant, he the people that

decided not to elope with surround them are

Ellen Olenska. He has to expecting them to wed.

do his duty and

responsibility as a father

to his future child.

FAMILY  Each family is committed  Alfredo Salazar and

a. Family tie to keeping the line going Esperanza came from

b. Family’s by marrying off various a prominent family.

Legacy members to equally or This is a fact that they

more prestigious families have to maintain their

like the Archers and family’s legacy be

Wellands. marrying someone

 The characters don’t having the same status

want to bring shame on in life.

the family by breaking  In the story, Alfredo

the wedding plans or and Don Julian

committing divorce. (Alfredo’s father) used

 Most of the female to bond after church in

characters fulfil their the house of Judge Del

roles as the domestic Valle. This is an

 glue that keeps families example that they have

together, and exert a a close family ties.

profound influence upon  This family ties is also

the men in the family. evident to Julia Salas,

when she visited her

sister and when her

parents to spend Holy

Week with her.

III. CONCLUSION

Based on the table presented, these two literary pieces share the similar themes

although written by different authors. The themes revolve on Love, Dissatisfaction,

Duty and Responsibility and Family. These stories existed in different periods (Age

of Innocence, 1920 and Dead Stars, 1925) and places (New York and Philippines)

but give us an idea that there are similar experiences and issues that happen to

different people. Since, the authors reflect on their stories the issues of the society,

thus, these themes in the story happened in reality during the time they have put

these into writings.

REFERENCES

 http://www.shmoop.com/the-age-of-innocence/summary.html

 http://bibliophilicnightowl.blogspot.com/2011/01/summary-dead-stars-by-paz-

marquez.html
 https://www.reference.com/art-literature/plot-story-dead-stars-paz-marquez-

benitez-1e8cded5da91faf2

 https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/e/ethan-frome/edith-wharton-biography

 http://sushidog.com/bpss/stories/stars.htm