Question

Read the following excerpt from The Age of Innocence, and identify the narrator’s tone regarding Countess Olenska’s behavior.

Answer 1

The tone is of strong disapproval.

Explanation:

The passage here presents multiple instances of disapproval of Countess Olenska's behavior

• the narrator calls her a compromised woman, essentially, one of a loose character.
• questions her going outside in the' shopping hour', that is, when she has a chance of meeting men outside.

• her absence when the betrothed couple comes is presented as a relief. She is either ill mannered or her family is ashamed of having her around.

It is evident that the Countess here is being judged on impossible standards.