The Age of Innocence, based on the classic by
Edith Wharton, directed by Martin Scorsese, with Daniel Day-Lewis
10 out
of 10
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This
will be a look at The Age of Innocence, as adapted for the big screen and Through
a Glass…Brightly
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This
note will be trying to consider the Signature Strengths of the characters and
what we can learn from them, in terms of Positive Psychology
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The
Age of Innocence is a resplendent story of love, fidelity and betrayal, perseverance,
dedication and more
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It
is surprising thought to find that the film, with an impressive acclaim form
critics, did not win more than one Oscar
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Besides,
it was not even nominated for Best Motion, Leading Roles, Director, which it
deserved
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Even
if this was the year of outstanding productions, like:
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Schindler’s
List- the formidable winner for 1994- The Remains of the Day- another glorious
masterpiece
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The
Piano, with extraordinary performances from Holly Hunter and the very young
Anna Paquin
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Winona
Ryder, probably before her real life problems, has won a Golden Globe for her
role as May Welland
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May
is about to be married to Newland Archer aka the phenomenal Daniel Day-Lewis, who
is alas retired now
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May
Welland is not one of the main characters, although the apparent simplicity and
lack of standing is just that:
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Smoke
and mirrors
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I
think I missed her maneuvers when I first saw this state of the art film and
when I have read the novel
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When
she becomes aware of the danger posed by her cousin, Ellen Olenska, the
magnificent Michelle Pfeiffer, May acts
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As
she presents an image of Innocence, the woman who loves Newland is not just Conscious
of the threat, but moves to win
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Her
Creativity, Persistence, Bravery, Social Intelligence, Vitality, Humility and
Hope win the day
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These
are all Signature Strengths that are not at all evident at first glance,
indeed, as aforementioned I missed them at first glance
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Newland
Archer is the hero of this story and he is torn between his duty towards May
and his love
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He
falls in Love with Ellen Olenska, a married woman who has to live away from her
bad husband
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This
situation makes her a sort of pariah in certain circles that blame her for a
situation in which she suffers and for which she is not responsible
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This
is where The Age of Innocence appears as an Absolute Irony since what Innocence
is there?
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There
is of course a tendency to glorify past époques and attribute to them qualities
they did not really have
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In
Midnight in Paris, the narrative concentrates around the hero who travels back
in time, to meet the likes of Scott F. Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Gertrude
Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dali
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The
protagonist is exhilarated, for he sees this as The Golden Age and yet, his girlfriend
wants to travel to the 1890, because for her that is the real Belle Époque,
which raises the question- where do we stop?
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With
Kubla Khan?
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Newland
Archer experiences the classic conflict between mind and heart, duty and
passion, in the end keeping his promise
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He
is at times Prudent, Kind, Hopeful, Grateful, Persistent, Open-Minded, Fair,
Forgiving and Merciful
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Alas,
all these Signature Strengths do not help him obtain the desired escape with
Ellen Olenska
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The
tragic thing is that the two are in love with each other and in this Age
Without Innocence, they would just run away together
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In
the “Age of Innocence” however that must not be and what the society says
matters a lot and determines the outcome of this and multiple other love
stories that ended in sorrow and disappointment
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It
is also true that we could not really know if Newland and Ellen would have been
happy together
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It
could have been a passing infatuation, a strong sexual desire in an age that
was so puritanical and pretentious
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One magic and elating aspect of this work is
that it makes the audience think; imagine possible outcomes and variations of
the plot…
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