In 1870s New York, the established upper class prefers to squeeze into the little old music academy than build a new opera house, in order to keep out newly wealthy people.

Newland Archer attends a performance of famous real-life opera singer Christine Nilsson’s rendition of Faust. He arrives fashionably late, thinking of how he has just proposed and been accepted by the young May Welland. Archer has a high opinion of himself, considering himself more knowledgeable and better traveled than other members of New York high society. Still, he feels that he must conform to expectations.

Archer believes that May is too naive to understand Faust. He contrasts her negatively to a married woman with whom he was obsessed two years earlier: “if he had probed to the bottom of his vanity […] he would have found there the wish that his wife should be as worldly-wise and as eager to please” as his former mistress (Location 90). Meanwhile, a slim young woman styled like Empress Josephine catches his attention. Her presence causes a commotion and Archer’s acquaintances wonder at the Mingott family’s nerve at bringing her there.