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The Age of Innocence: The Tale of Fore - shadow play
In The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton, Foreshadowing provides a sense of both humorous and upsetting sense of irony. Certain foreshadowing, such as Lawrence Leffert’s prediction of Newland Archer’s children marrying Julius Beaufort’s “Little Bastards,” has a slightly humorous ring of irony. Newland’s prediction of May, his wife, dying, has a depressing, melancholy twist of fate irony. Foreshadowing, though subtle, provides large hints about the future in The Age of Innocence.
To begin with, Newland suggests to himself May might pass away, leaving him free to be with Ellen. Contemplating May’s warning that he might catch a death of a cold, he considers the possibility that May might die. Though he thinks in a foolish state of mind, his hope comes true in the form of an infected bacterial cold. May passes away with pneumonia while nursing her child. Newland’s unlikely fantasy actually comes to pass, but too late for his wish to be with Ellen to come true.
Also, Newland sends a bouquet of roses to Ellen. Not quite understanding what he is doing, noticing only their similar attributes, he sends yellow roses to Countess Olenska. As sending roses usually signifies, Newland begins to fall in love with Ellen after sending them, and spending time with her. Newland may not have even realized it, but the countess had already intrigued him, causing this odd behavior contrary to everything he believed. Newland, though engaged to May, foreshadows his own actions and contradicting his beliefs in sending Ellen roses.
Lastly, Lawrence Lefferts humorously suggests that their kids will marry Julius Beaufort’s. Lawrence remarked, “If things go on at this rate, our children will be marrying Beaufort’s Bastards.” (P 352) Lawrence’s sarcastic prediction came to pass exactly as he said. Once again, the irony of foreshadow takes a random, daft comment and turns it to reality.
Throughout the book, foreshadowing plays an important and ironic part in sarcastic predictions that come to pass. From secret crushes to horrible deaths, forshadowing provides many hints to what the future holds.