I just finished this book and like you I did not read any commentary about it before starting. I also came to the same conclusion as you did that May Welland is much smarter than she’s given credit for.
Yesss loved this! I recently finished rereading it for the third time and was so fascinated this time around by May and her quiet cunning. Newland’s caught up with pre-existing notions from his upbringing and society, and he’s repeatedly surprised by Ellen’s behaviour and repeatedly wrong about May’s insight. When I read it this time, I felt that May’s asking about his previous affair was definitely a diversion - I think she was starting to suspect re Ellen and used his previous affair as an opening for him to be truthful. When he wasn’t, that was her warning - two days after Newland gets back to New York, May has convinced her parents to speed up the engagement. Then the similar thing about announcing her pregnancy to Ellen before she even knew for sure (not quite as subtle but inescapably effective) - she 100% knew what was up and her intercepts come at *just* the right moment. Godddd this book is so good I could go on about it for hours lol. Absolutely justice for May
Yesssss!! This is sooo true. May is quietly the most intriguing character and that's a hill I will DIE on. Thanks so much for reading and for the kind words! xx
I *really* want to read Age of Innocence at some point - so to save from light spoilers I’ll listen to the pod and preemptively congratulate you on a post which I’m sure is soooo great and I’ll come back and read when I’ve read! xoxox
She knew everything right from the start. She knew it was Ellen, and she gave him opportunity to confess. He was just not ready for it, maybe too much of a coward, we can argue what were his motives truly, but she was quite generous to him and finally she did what she had to do.
I just finished this book and like you I did not read any commentary about it before starting. I also came to the same conclusion as you did that May Welland is much smarter than she’s given credit for.
Yesss loved this! I recently finished rereading it for the third time and was so fascinated this time around by May and her quiet cunning. Newland’s caught up with pre-existing notions from his upbringing and society, and he’s repeatedly surprised by Ellen’s behaviour and repeatedly wrong about May’s insight. When I read it this time, I felt that May’s asking about his previous affair was definitely a diversion - I think she was starting to suspect re Ellen and used his previous affair as an opening for him to be truthful. When he wasn’t, that was her warning - two days after Newland gets back to New York, May has convinced her parents to speed up the engagement. Then the similar thing about announcing her pregnancy to Ellen before she even knew for sure (not quite as subtle but inescapably effective) - she 100% knew what was up and her intercepts come at *just* the right moment. Godddd this book is so good I could go on about it for hours lol. Absolutely justice for May
Yesssss!! This is sooo true. May is quietly the most intriguing character and that's a hill I will DIE on. Thanks so much for reading and for the kind words! xx
I *really* want to read Age of Innocence at some point - so to save from light spoilers I’ll listen to the pod and preemptively congratulate you on a post which I’m sure is soooo great and I’ll come back and read when I’ve read! xoxox
Yay Martha!!! I would love to hear your fullll thoughts on this one. So much to unpack lol
She knew everything right from the start. She knew it was Ellen, and she gave him opportunity to confess. He was just not ready for it, maybe too much of a coward, we can argue what were his motives truly, but she was quite generous to him and finally she did what she had to do.