This quote reflects the tension and clash of cultures depicted in the novel, as Countess Olenska negotiates her identity and desires within the rigid social structure of 1870s New York.
The Countess Olenska is a character from Edith Wharton's novel "The Age of Innocence." The novel, published in 1920, is set in 1870s New York and explores the social norms and expectations of the upper class during that time.
In this quote, Countess Olenska seems to express her awareness of the differences between European and American societal norms. She anticipates that seeking her freedom or expressing unconventional desires may be viewed as conforming to American ideas, which may include a perception of early dining and a more liberal attitude towards divorce compared to European norms of that era.
Countess Olenska thought she would be conforming to American Ideas asking for her freedom___ They think we dine at two o'clock and countenance divorce!. What is the quote about?