Wharton stylistically gives her characters symbolic meanings. This becomes undismissable with the introduction of Ned Winsett in Chapter 14. Until now, we have not been given much insight into life outside of Old New York's social elite. It is thus especially pertinent that the "outsider" introduced is a friend of Archer's. Ned is a failed writer, and now finds work as a journalsist; to many, he would be considered a failure. Archer finds particular interest in Ned's opinions and values his insight. However, he also recognizes Ned's life to be just as confing as his own. It is thus Ned Winsett's symbolism has ambiguous meaning: he dually respesents both freedom from social heirachy and the strain of living "on the outside."
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