The Age of Innocence is the masterpiece of American female writer Edith Wharton. The romance novel is set in the New York upper class between 1870s and 1880s. This paper analyzes the character traits of the two female protagonists from a feminist perspective, so as to illustrate the fateful influence of patriarchy on people at that time. The New York upper class at that time dreaded scandal more than disease, and therefore, the true love between Newland Archer and Ellen Olenska fell victim to the patriarchal society. Ellen is a courageous new woman who longs for freedom and equality with men and thus is rejected by the New York upper class and makes great sacrifices. May Welland firmly adheres to the old conventions in New York society, but at the same time, she has her share of rebellion. She is smart and disguises herself as a pure woman. She firmly defends her marriage and finally wins. She is a defender of patriarchy, but is also a pitiful woman. From the analysis, this thesis maintains that the oppressive patriarchy is exactly the underlying cause of their unfortunate fate. This novel reveals that women-consciousness of the West was burgeoning in the 20th century, and conveys the author’s wish of gender equality.