Newland Archer Timeline and Summary

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• Newland Archer is at an opera performance of Faust.
• In his fiancee's (May Welland's) opera box, he notices Countess Ellen Olenska. She's scandalously separated from her hubby.
• To protect May's family's reputation, he and May announce their engagement that night at the Beauforts's ball.
• Newland and May go on betrothal visits to their family members. While at Mrs. Manson Mingott's, Ellen Olenska arrives accompanied by Julius Beaufort.
• When Mr. Sillerton Jackson joins the Archer family for dinner, Newland defends Ellen Olenska's decision to separate from her husband.
• Newland meets Ellen Olenska at a dinner given by the van der Luydens. She invites him to see her the next day.
• The next day, Newland has a more extensive conversation with Ellen Olenska, where he goes into the ins and outs of New York society. After their visit, he sends her yellow roses, while he sends lilies-of-the-valley to May.
• The next day, Newland convinces May to walk with him in Central Park. He asks her to move their wedding date up, but she doesn't believe it is possible.
• The next afternoon, Newland discovers that his mother, along with other society women, are scandalized that Ellen was seen in the company of Mr. Beaufort at Mrs. Struthers's. He defends Ellen.
• Two weeks later, Mr. Letterblair asks Newland to examine the case file on Ellen Olenska's divorce claims.
• After dinner with Mr. Letterblair, Newland visits Ellen to discuss her case and advises her not to divorce. He kisses her hand in farewell.
• A week later, Newland sees Ellen at a performance of The Shaughraun.
• He visits her while she is staying at Skuytercliff, but their visit is interrupted by the appearance of Julius Beaufort.
• A few days later, she proposes a meeting, but instead, he heads down to St. Augustine to spend a week with May and her family.
• When he returns, he asks Mrs. Manson Mingott to help push his wedding date earlier, and Ellen agrees to help.
• The next night, Archer visits Ellen. After her other guests leave, he declares his love for her. Ellen refuses his advances. Their conversation ends when she receives a telegram from May announcing that her parents have agreed to move up the wedding date.
• When Julius returns home, he finds that May has sent him a similar telegram.
• In April, Archer and May marry, then embark on a two-month honeymoon in Europe.
• They travel through Switzerland and France before landing in London.
• At a party in London, Archer meets Monsieur Rivière.
• A year later, Newland and May are in Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer. Newland watches May win an archery competition.
• Newland and May visit Mrs. Manson Mingott, who tells Newland to fetch Ellen Olenska.
• Although Newland finds Ellen by the pier, he turns away before greeting her.
• Later, Newland visits the Blenker house when he knows Ellen won't be in.
• One of the Blenker girls informs Newland that Ellen has left for Boston.
• Newland leaves for Boston the next day. In Boston, he finds Ellen, and they dine together.
• When Newland returns to New York City, he runs into Monsieur Rivière on the street. Later, he and Rivière discuss Ellen's divorce case.
• Newland and May join Newland's mother, sister, and Mr. Sillerton Jackson for Thanksgiving dinner.
• When the Beaufort scandal erupts, Newland goes over to Mrs. Manson Mingott at May's request. Mrs. Manson Mingott has suffered a heart attack, and wants to see Ellen.
• A couple days later, Newland goes to pick up Ellen at the train station. They kiss passionately on the way into town, but Newland leaves the carriage before it reaches Mrs. Manson Mingott's.
• Later that evening, May chides Newland for forgetting to meet her at Mrs. Manson Mingott's.
• Newland and Ellen meet at the Metropolitan Museum where he tries once again to convince her to run away with him.
• After dinner with the van der Luydens, Newland and May leave a performance of Faust early.
• Newland is about to confess his feelings for Ellen Olenska when May announces that she is pregnant.
• Newland and May hold a farewell party for Ellen Olenska at their home.
• Twenty-six years later, Newland accompanies his eldest son Dallas to Paris, where Ellen Olenska has settled.
• Although they both get as far as Ellen's door, Newland tells his son that he prefers to wait outside while his son goes up to visit Ellen.
• When the shutters of Ellen's windows close, Newland heads back to the hotel.