Only, I wonder - the thing one's so certain of in advance: can it ever make one's heart beat as wildly?

Only, I wonder - the thing one's so certain of in advance: can it ever make one's heart beat as wildly?

In the world of Edith Wharton, certainty is often a double-edged sword. Her characters are frequently faced with the consequences of their own convictions, and the question of whether or not those convictions are truly worth the price they pay for them. In her novel "The Age of Innocence," Wharton explores the theme of certainty and its impact on the human heart.

The quote "Only, I wonder - the thing one's so certain of in advance: can it ever make one's heart beat as wildly?" speaks to the idea that certainty can sometimes be a barrier to true passion and excitement. Wharton's characters often find themselves trapped by their own sense of certainty, unable to break free and experience the full range of emotions that life has to offer.

In "The Age of Innocence," the protagonist Newland Archer is a man who is certain of his place in society and his role in life. He is engaged to the beautiful and proper May Welland, and everything seems to be going according to plan. However, when he meets the unconventional and passionate Countess Ellen Olenska, his certainty is shaken to its core. Suddenly, the things he was so sure of in advance no longer seem so certain, and his heart begins to beat wildly with the possibility of a different kind of life.

Wharton's exploration of certainty and its impact on the human heart is a central theme in many of her works. Her characters are often forced to confront their own beliefs and assumptions, and to question whether or not they are truly living the lives they want to live. In the end, Wharton seems to suggest that certainty can be a dangerous thing, leading us to miss out on the true beauty and excitement of life.