Susan answers “How is Medora Manson related to Mrs....”

Yoana asked this question about The Age of Innocence:

How is Medora Manson related to Mrs. Manson Mingott? From the information provided, she must be her daughter - her brother is Ellen's father, and Ellen's maiden name is Mingott; Mrs. Manson Mingott is her grandmother. However, on two occasions it says Medora's mother had been a Rushworth, and Mrs. Manson Mingott's maiden name is Spicer! I can't find anything about this obvious inconsistency. Am I missing something?

Susan It was common in the nineteenth century to refer to brothers- and sisters-in-law as just brothers and sisters, which seems to have caused your confusi…moreIt was common in the nineteenth century to refer to brothers- and sisters-in-law as just brothers and sisters, which seems to have caused your confusion. Medora seems to be the widow of the brother of Ellen's mother. (Ellen's mother and May's mother were sisters, both Mansons.) What makes this even more complicated is that Mrs. Manson Mingott's mother-in-law was also a Manson (Many first sons in this society had their mother's family surname as their first names, like Manson Mingott & Newland Archer), so Medora's husband was also Mrs. Manson Mingott's nephew or cousin by marriage. Part of the point of this book is how complicated these familial relationships were.(less)

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The Age of Innocence

by Edith Wharton

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