Newland Archer, a wealthy lawyer living in New York City, is engaged to May Welland. He is not too fond of her, but people of his circle have a small choice of attractive brides from decent families. However, the situation changes when Ellen, May’s cousin, arrives from Europe. The woman is trying to divorce her husband, a Polish aristocrat, and this makes her a social outcast. But the longer Archer convinces Ellen to hold off on the divorce, the more disillusioned he becomes with the laws of society he’s used to following.