Countess Olenska is the talk of the opera audience because she grew up in New York and has had a controversial past which has brought her back to her roots under mysterious circumstances. The majority of the Lovell Mingott's formal dinner invitations are declined. New York's high society is sending the message that Countess Olenska is not welcome. The Archers turn to Mr. and Mrs. Van der Luyden because of their elite and revered status in New York’s high society with hopes they will be able to fix this issue. The yellow roses signify the boldness and strength of Ellen Olenska in contrast to the white and pure lilies of the valley Newland gifts to May. They also represent the secrecy of Newland and Ellen’s relationship, as the two initially abstain from telling anyone of the gift. This quote is significant because May is giving Newland the opportunity to back out of their engagement if he believes he would be happier with someone else. Newland makes the mistake of refusing his fiance's offer. Not long after this interaction, Newland and May get married.
In chapter XXIII, Ellen has just received and rejected a proposal from her husband for her return. Ellen promises not to return to Europe because she loves Newland and her life is empty without him. May hosts a dinner in her cousin Ellen's honor as an opportunity to celebrate and say farewell before she leaves for Europe. At the dinner party, Newland has the epiphany that high society has rallied together behind May to prevent him from being with Ellen and separate the two once and for all. When Newland tells May he wishes to travel abroad, May shares with him that she is pregnant. It is significant that she shared this information with Ellen first because it prevents Ellen from becoming Newland’s mistress.
Chapter XXXIV takes place almost 26 years later. Dallas shares that on her deathbed, May told him that he was safe with Newland because when they started a family, he gave up Ellen, the thing he wanted most in life. At the end of The Age of Innocence, Newland does not go into Ellen's home with his son because he realizes the Countess has formed a life in Paris over the decades they spent apart. Newland wants to remember who Ellen was and does not want to meet who she is now.