Character Analysis
Mrs. Archer and her sidekick, er, daughter, Janey, make up Newland Archer's immediate family. Mrs. Archer is the voice of tradition. When she and Mr. Sillerton Jackson are at the same table, they gripe and groan about the decay of society, and try to out-do each other in kids-these-days-style gloom. Mrs. Struthers made her money on shoe polish? Scandalous! Ellen Olenska goes to Mrs. Struthers' party, even after the van der Luydens take Ellen under their wing? How could she! Naturally, Mrs. Archer loves having sweet, virginal May for a daughter-in-law.