Throughout the novel, May has always been viewed as the “innocent” and “child-like” character with a clean and naive mind. Although, this framing of May was due to the fact that we didn’t get information of her feelings, of her motives, her actions, and most importantly her life with Archer. Was there any intimacy? Was she really in love with him? By the end of the novel, we realize that May in fact, was not naive, she was well aware of her surroundings- Archer and Ellens love affair. Although, Edith Wharton hides this realization till the end of the novel when may is pregnant, there was a reason behind that. Her inner devious and true Diana comes out when she tells Archer that: “I wasn¹t sure then, but I told her I was." This reason is realizing that May figuratively represents the goddess Diana and Archer represents a broken cupid.
When doing some research, I found that Diana represented the goddess of wild animals and hunting, goddess of maiden dance and song, goddess of child delivery, and nursing infants. this parallel that Wharton drew between May and Diana is quite interesting because it is not really a parallel, more so a foil. May, we see as innocent and not devious, while on the contrary Diana is devious and very animalistic. Note that externally, May is very lady like and lacks any male qualities, but by the end of the novel when she tells Archer that she is pregnant, she suddenly gains this animalistic feel. Why? Well, out of all people, Ellen was the first to know about the pregnancy, and she didn’t do this to gain congratulations, but to warn and hint at Ellen that she has already conquered Archer and that he is hers forever. Like wise, May at the end of the novel is animalistic in that she is feisty over having Archer, but does it in a devious way.
Next, through these ending chapters, we see that Archer still lies about his Affair with Ellen, but gains a feel for destiny. In chapter 21, the fate and destiny motif is seen when he is by the sea looking for Ellen. Archer switches from lies to this sudden belief in destiny and signs. That if the boat passes the rock and she looks back at him, it means love. Why has Archer gained a sudden feel for destiny? This reliance on destiny shows how Newland is no longer the “cupid” in the story. He no longer proceeds to go up to women, rather he waits for their hints. Such shows that Archer is like a broken cupid, unable to get the love he wants with that bow and arrow. In fact, Archer and May switch rolls, She is the one with the bow and arrow, while Archer suffers with confusion.
The reference to the bow and arrow was interesting since May literally has the bow and arrow. At the Beaufort’s party, she wins the archery competition. In terms of cupid, this party would likely be a turning point when the switched roles become obvious. I thought it was interesting that May didn’t tell Archer that she was pregnant until he said he wanted to take a break and travel. It was almost as if she was waiting until she had a reason to tell him. I agree that May was animalistic in her manipulation, but I thought it was out of survival. A woman whose husband is no longer in the picture suffers. May saw the way Ellen was treated and didn’t want to face that. The society values marriage, even if it is a bad marriage. I mean Ellen’s family wanted her to return to the Count despite the treatment she had received. May would have been similarly looked down upon. She would have been blamed for Archer leaving. After all, as the beginning of the novel explained, women are blamed for everything, even the affairs men have. So, I thought May’s actions were rooted in self-preservation above all else. Men have affairs; it’s normal in that society, but May doesn’t do anything about it until she realizes Archer means to leave her.
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