Setting the novel in the 1870s allowed Wharton to critically examine the societal transformations that occurred during the Gilded Age, providing perspective on how American society evolved from rigid Victorian values to the more modern sensibilities of the 1920s.

Ellen Olenska represents modernity, independence, and European sophistication. Her character serves as a catalyst for exposing the limitations and hypocrisies of New York's traditional society, while also embodying the possibility of a more authentic way of living.

The bittersweet ending, where Newland chooses not to meet Ellen years later, reinforces the novel's exploration of sacrifice, duty, and the lasting impact of societal constraints. It shows how the characters have been permanently shaped by their adherence to social conventions, even as the world around them changes.