Society is "an organized group periodically meeting because of common interests or beliefs; distinguishable by particular aims or standards of living; or a social circle having a clearly marked identity". Because society has "particular aims or standards of living", it restricts people on what they can and can not do according to their particular aims. Society therefore becomes oppressive and rejects what does not follow its usual way. Edith Wharton shows this in her literary works and shows the severeness of following this oppression. Wharton, author of Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome, shows that society is oppressive and restricts people of what they truly desire in these two different books.

The setting shows that no matter the place or people, society will always restrict. Ethan Frome takes place in a small, poor area called Starkfield, while Age of Innocence takes place in the large city of New...