Ethan Frome Essays

Ethan Frome Character Analysis
Ethan frome, written by Edith Wharton, explores the decision of one man who is in a loveless
relationship with his wife that is always sick and her young youthful cousin that comes to help his
wife. His decision will ultimately affect everyone's life in small town Starkfield. The differences and
similarities between both woman and the characteristics of ethan will lead him to the choice he
makes at the end.
Ethan Frome begins with a visitor passing through starkfield that is told the story of Ethan Frome.
Zeena, his wife, appears to be cold and callous, and mattie is her opposite being that she is young
and carefree. Zeena has mostly been the one caring for others (Ethan's mother before she died) and
when she gets sick (alot), mattie is the
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Ethan Frome Tragedy
The novel Ethan Frome is a short story packed with detail. It takes place in Starkfield and is about
a farmer named Ethan Frome. Ethan made poor decisions because he was trapped living with two
women; his wife, Zeena, and his wife's cousin, Mattie. Ethan fell in love with Mattie. When Ethan
and Mattie fell in love, they made a horribly rash choice making this novel a tragedy. A tragedy in
literature is wherewhen a main character or hero suffers a downfall because of a character flaw,
error in judgement, or forces beyond human control. The short novel, Ethan Frome, written by Edith
Wharton, is a tragedy because of Ethan Frome's character flaws, errors in judgement and the forces
beyond his control.
In the novel, Ethan Frome, Ethan is the...show more content...
After the smash–up, Ethan is still quite a handsome man but his state of mind has changed. Ethan
has become consumed with guilt from the smash–up so much so that he has become "bleak and
unapproachable" and "so stiffened and grizzled that I took him for an old man and was surprised to
hear that he was not more than fifty–two" (page 3). This clearly conveys that Ethan has become
bitter and cold.
In summation, the novel Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, can be classified as a tragedy. A man
named Ethan Frome suffers many downfalls and short comings because of errors in judgement and
character flaws. Ethan could not even kill himself and his true love without screwing it up. Because
of these suffered tragedies, Ethan becomes a different man, paralyzed physically and emotionally
and racked with guilt.
Works Cited
Wharton,Edith. Ethan Frome and Other Short Fiction. Bantam Classics. October

Ethan Frome Character Analysis Essay
Written by Pulitzer winning author Edith Wharton, Ethan Frome is a novel that became published in
1911. The novel focuses on the relationship among Ethan Frome, his wife Zenobia "Zeena" Frome,
and Zenobia's cousin Mattie Silver, who live in a small town in Massachusetts. The relationship
among these three characters was unsettling and sufferable because of Zeena's control over the
relationship, which forced Ethan and Mattie to succumb to destructive impulses. The relationship
among Ethan, Zeena, and Mattie was both positive and negative. Because Ethan's mom had just
died, Ethan married Zeena; the thought of the impending loneliness his mother and father's death
brought frightened him. Ethan was miserable in his marriage to Zeena; he had to deal with Zeena's
"sickness and trouble", which frustrated...show more content...
Carrying out his hobbies was another thing that Zeena's control prevented Ethan from doing. Ethan
and Zeena's relationship was so tumultuous that it affected other people. In chapter 6, Ethan wants
his farm hand, Jotham Powell, to stay for dinner for his "neutralising presence at the supper table"
(Wharton 92). However, sensing that there would be tension between Zeena and Ethan, Jotham told
Ethan that he would "go along back" (Wharton 92). Zeena and Mattie's relationship did not fare any
better. Approval from Zeena was something that Mattie couldn't attain, mainly because Zeena did not
know that Ethan was doing most of the work around the house. Zeena did not like Mattie because
she does not do an adequate job of cleaning the house. Even though Zeena never communicated these
feelings out loud, her "fault–finding was of the silent kind"(Wharton 53). Zeena was also "doubtful
of the girl's efficiency" in cleaning the house (Wharton 53). Another reason Zeena does not approve
of Mattie because Ethan seems to give Mattie more attention than her. Ethan and Mattie's relationship
was the most positive relationship in Ethan Frome because they lusted after

Symbolism In Ethan Frome Essays
Symbolism can give additional meaning to a variety of texts. From music to movies to novels,
symbolism creates an even deeper meaning than found in a surface reading. The symbolism found
within Ethan Frome adds to the inherent meaning of the text to give it an even deeper meaning.
Edith Wharton uses the pickle dish, the Oak tree, and the cat as symbols to achieve deeper meaning.
The pickle dish is of great significance in the novel. It is used to represent Zeena's virginity.
Mattie seamed to know a great deal more about the pickle dish than Ethan did. She had to remind
him "It was a wedding present don't you remember? It came all the way from Philadelphia,
from Zeena's aunt that married a minister"(70). Ethan never bothered to...show more content...
The symbolism becomes clear when Zeena explains that the only person to touch it is herself and
only to clean it.
The oak tree is used to symbolize Ethan in the novel. The connection can be seen by comparing
the characteristics of each. The Oak tree is seen by the characters in the novel as a solid,
unchanging, and immovable object. The same can be said about Ethan. He has always has and
probably always will live in Starkfield.
According to the narrator, "he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but
the ruin of a man. It was not so much his great height that marked him, for the 'natives' were easily
singled out by their lank longitude from the stockier foreign breed: it was the careless powerful
look he had, in spite of a lameness checking each step like the jerk of a chain"(11). Although
he wasn't dangerous by nature, people still respected and sometimes feared him. He had a
commanding air about him that everyone noticed. The cat is used to be symbolic of Zeena. While
Zeena was away, the cat was constantly underfoot and in the way of Ethan and Mattie.
The cat was trying to get attention by jumping " between them into Zeena's empty
chair"(68)." The cat tried to get attention

The Development of the Novel and Characters
In the novel Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, the character of Ethan Frome plays an important role
in the development of the rest of the book. He has several character traits which distinguish him
from the other main characters. Also, there are many factors which play against him throughout the
novel.
The physical appearance of Ethan Frome played a significant part in creating his character. He was
a tall, thin man. He had dark colored hair and dark eyes. He seemed a little rough around the edges
and the scar on the side of his face was another of his distinguishing marks. At the very beginning of
the book, he is 52 years old, but is described as looking much...show more content...
Ethan Frome was highly motivated by Mattie Silver. He dreamed of being with her and not with
his wife Zeena. His motivation reflected his behavior towards his family and friends and most of
all Mattie. Each time he looked at her, he felt that they were meant to be together forever. He even
thought about running away with her to the west and starting over again. His marriage to Zeena
was a forced marriage because of her services given to Ethan's mother when she was sick and
dying. Frome could not hold back his emotions for Mattie Silver and each chance he had, he
expressed them to her. Although he felt guilty about lying to Zeena just to be with Mattie, he could
not help his actions he was so in love.
Frome changed throughout the novel several times. In the beginning of the novel he was
unhappy, ruled by his wife once again after the accident had occurred. During the flashback, he
was anxious to see what was going to happen between Mattie and him. This was a better time in
his life, but he was still not completely happy. Once again at the end of the book, he was sad.
Stuck in the routine of daily life, unable to escape the Starkfield winters, one of the few that had
stayed. This change was inevitable, and at least he had some life in his daily routine, even if it was
short lived. This change proved that he was seriously stuck in his system of daily events. His life
was anything but

Theme Of Isolation In Ethan Frome
Ashley Morales & Elizabeth Dushaj Mrs. McKeon English 11R 9 March 2016 In the book Ethan
Frome, written by Edith Wharton there are 3 main characters that are trapped in a love triangle,
Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena. Although Ethan and Mattie long to be together the circumstances they are
in aren't ideal. A theme of Moral Isolation is woven throughout this story. In chapter 5 it shows what
could be between Ethan and Mattie's character, a bittersweet day is shared between the two. There
are things that help further develop the theme of Moral Isolation in this chapter such as setting,
dialogue, and characters. Ethan and Mattie experience a day without the presence of Zeena Ethan
and Mattie spend a peaceful day together but Ethan's strict morals...show more content...
She provides the conflict by causing Ethan's inner turmoil. She helps move the story along because
of the thought she evokes in Ethan such as the thought of leaving his wife. However Ethan's morals
would never let him actually leave his wife supporting the theme of Moral Isolation Although the
two have a rare and precious day together without Zeena nothing happens because of Ethan's moral
values. His moral values is what keeps him isolated from Mattie and the happiness their relationship
could provide "The cat who had been a puzzled observer of these unusual movements, jumped up
into Zeena's chair, rolled itself into a ball, and lay watching them with narrowed

Ethan Frome Character Traits
Robert Chad Barrett
Mr. David Becker
Literature 221
27 March 2015
Ethan Frome, a Study in American Qualities There are many conversations about Americans, the
American Spirit, and the American Dream. These can be found anywhere: the internet, newsprint,
movies and television shows, radio broadcasts, and books. Author Edith Wharton wrote a novel
published in 1911, Ethan Frome, which uses naturalism and realism to breathe life into the title
character and story. Ethan Frome displays values distinct to Americans; he desires to better himself
and not rely on anyone else, values his time and productivity, refuses to let his environment control
him, is a private man, and he shows a very American trait by desiring change. In direct contrast to his
many American traits, Ethan Frome never realizes his own personal dream; and yet, he still
personifies the quintessential American by living the American Dream. As there are many
conversations about Americans, there too, are many variations on what the definition of the
American Dream is: what it means to be truly and uniquely American. The United States Declaration
of Independence states: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In Wharton's novel, Ethan Frome
certainly has all three of those. James Truslow Adams describes the American dream in The
American Epic as "opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement" (questia).
Opportunity, as well as liberty and pursuit of happiness easily cover more specific

Ethan Frome: The Tragic Hero
Glen Velderrain
Mrs. White
English 3A
31 January 2017
Ethan Frome: The Tragic Hero In many stories, a hero has a major flaw which contributes to his
downfall. The Story "Ethan Frome", a literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin
or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, a moral weakness, or an
inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. Our hero, Ethan, is the character with the tragic
flaw, which is a flaw in the character of the protagonist of a tragedy that brings the protagonist to
ruin or sorrow. His biggest flaw is the misuse of communication in the story which brings problems
with Zeena and Mattie.
Ethan's tragic flaw, which is the lack of communication

Throughout Ethan Frome the ancestor's graveyard played a haunting role on Ethan and his future
endeavors. On the tomb it read ""... ENDURANCE HIS WIFE, WHO DWELLED TOGETHER IN
PEACE FOR FIFTY YEARS." (89) The Gravestone of Ethan's ancestor and his wife, Endurance is a
motif throughout the novel, and everything that happens in the novel is tied to the reading of the
gravestone. That Ethan must "endure' his life in Starkfield and his marriage to Zeena because he is
bound to die in Starkfield.
Through the introduction given to the narrator, Starkfield is perceived as a town where hopes are
lost, dreams are broken, and plans are empty. We see this through the main character Ethan.
Starkfield is a town where nothing happens. If you are born in Starkfield...show more content...
Society also is in the way of Ethan's desires. Even when he has a night alone with Mattie "like a
married couple" (89) he still can not do anything because he is reminded of his domestic duties.
"he was never so happy with her (Mattie) as when he abandoned himself to these dreams." (58)
When he plans to move out west with Mattie he can't because he would not bring himself to take
money "by deceiving two kindly people who had pitied him." (161) In the end Ethan decides not to
fight between social and moral order and his desires proving that he avoids "man–ing" up to
conflicts. Instead he chose to abandon his burdens by abandoning his own life, and letting the
destiny of Starkfield take

Ethan Frome Essay
The Novella of Edith Wharton, Ethan Frome, is a tragedy. Ethan Frome suffered tragedy because
of his character flaws, errors in his judgment, and forces beyond his control. Ethan Frome married a
woman, Zeena, he was lonely and not truly in love with her. When her cousin, Maddie comes to live
with them Ethan becomes infatuated with her. When Maddie has to leave, Ethan and Maddie decide
to kill themselves so they never would have to leave one another. In the novella of Edith Wharton,
Ethan Frome, Ethan is a unique character who suffers a downfall due to character flaws, and errors in
judgment, and most important forces beyond human control to in which he gains wisdom.
Ethan Frome is a unique character who suffers a downfall in the tragedy...show more content...
This was an error in his judgment that led to him suffering his downfall.
Forces beyond human control are the most important aspect to the downfall of Ethan Frome. Fate
is the major force beyond his control. The night before Maddie had to leave Ethan and her were
discussing going down the hill eventually. Then the next night it was fate that, in order to get to
the train station, they had to drive past the hill. Ethan comments, "We were to have gone down
last night" (79), so they decided to go down then. If fate had not taken them past the hill they
would not have gone down. It was also fate that there was a sled by the tree; if there had been no
sled they could not have gone down. Maddie says, "'but there isn't a sled round anywheres' 'yes,
there is! Right over there under the spruces'" (79). If there was not a sled then they would not have
been able to go down the hill. However fate allowed the sled to be there.
Having suffered physically and emotionally from hitting an elm tree while sledding Ethan Frome
gains insight. He learned that trying to run away from his problems will never work. Ethan
attempted suicide to run away from Zeena and be with Maddie, because he didn't understand "the
good of either of [them] going anywheres without the other" (81). Instead of getting away from
Zeena, she was taking care of him and Maddie at the end of the novella. Ethan also gained the
wisdom of knowing what it is like to be ashamed. "He's that proud he don't even like

Ethan Frome Essay
Throughout the novel, Ethan Frome's sense of responsibility lives strong enough in him to forget
about his own happiness with Mattie, to stay with his wife Zeena, and to take care of the town when
all of the others have passed away. In Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome, Ethan's sense of responsibility to
his wife and land prevents him from achieving true happiness and causes his ultimate emotional
death. Ethan Frome has a strong enough sense of responsibility to keep himself from achieving true
happiness with his love Mattie. While Ethan and Mattie sit in the sled preparing to ram head first
into the tree, he sees Zeena's face appear before him, and this reminds him that he still needs to care
for her. Sitting on the sled with his love, Ethan...show more content...
This clearly states that Ethan must sacrifice his love for Mattie because he needs to take care of
his sick wife Zeena. He must remain in his stagnant life to care for Zeena. Ethan Frome also has a
sense of duty to stay with his current wife Zeena. Ethan wishes to leave Zeena immediately and to
run away with his true love Mattie, but he knows that Zeena could not possibly support herself on
her own. Edith Wharton shows this by writing, "...that Ethan drew a meager living from his land,
and his wife, even if she were in better health than she imagined, could never carry such a burden
alone" (Wharton 96). This distinctly explains that Ethan's sense of duty conquers once again and
controls him to stay with his bitter wife Zeena. Most have a universal opinion that Ethan has to
stay with his wife Zeena. Another author agrees with the fact that Ethan's plans to run away with
Mattie have become thwarted by saying, "But immediately his plans are set afoot, things begin to
close in on him again: farm and mill are mortgaged, he has no credit, and time is against him"
(Howe 132). The author states that Ethan's small estate will not support Zeena, and so Ethan's sense
of duty prevails over him again. Ethan's last responsibility leaves him to care for the older
townsfolk, and his own land. As the entire town of Starkfield grows older, Ethan has inherited the
responsibilities of caring for the old and disabled. Edith Wharton demonstrates this by explaining

Ethan Frome Essays
Ethan Frome The novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton tells the story of Ethan Frome and the
tragedy he faces in his life. The story mainly focuses on the relationships between and among
Ethan, his wife, and his wife's cousin, with whom he is in love. Wharton uses different literary
devices to develop the plot, including irony as one of the most effective. The use of irony in the
novel, especially in the climatic sledding scene, greatly adds to the development of the tragedy. The
sled ride which Ethan and Mattie take at the end of the story is full of irony. They often talk of
going sledding together. In the first conversation that the two have in the novel, sledding becomes
one of the first topics. Mattie relates an incident, "Ned...show more content...
They see a collision with the elm as a way to avoid parting. Mattie suggests, "Right into the big
elm...So 't we'd never have to leave each other any more". The irony is that sledding, an innocent
pastime, becomes a tool the lovers use to try to escape their situation. Another ironic element of the
sledding ride is the appearance of Zeena's face, Ethan's wife, during the scene. Ethan and Mattie are
speeding down the hill towards the elm to what they believe will be their deaths. In one of the last
instants before they reach the tree, Zeena's face appears to Ethan. "But suddenly his wife's face, with
twisted monstrous lineaments, thrust itself between him and his goal, and he made an instinctive
movement to brush it aside". Ethan seems not to have thought about the effects his death would
have on his wife, but this sudden image of his wife suggests that he feels guilty. It is ironic that he
uses phrases such as "sullen self–absorption" and "evil energy" to describe his wife. Yet, she is the
last person he imagines before he reaches the elm. This moment is one last time that he must brush
her aside, as he attempts to break free from Zeena forever. When Mattie is to be sent away, Ethan
and Mattie grow desperate looking for a way out of their impossible situation. They decide that it is
better to die in a sledding accident together than live their lives apart. Ethan hesitates slightly, "But in
a flash

Examples Of Ethan Frome As A Tragic Hero
As Aristotle once said, "A tragic hero is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality
and greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle." The character
Ethan Frome in the novella, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton can be classified as a tragic hero. After
being physically and emotionally isolated in a loveless marriage for seven years, the protagonist,
Ethan Frome, began his descent as a result of an error in judgement. As an effect of this isolation,
Ethan follows his instincts instead of his intellect, leading to a punishment much more harsh than his
initial crime. By making poor choices, Ethan poses a threat to society and causes suffering to family
members, friends and associates. The common characteristics of a tragic hero include the character
beginning with noble stature, enduring his "hamartia" (tragic flaw), and suffering a punishment that
is worse than the crime. The character of Ethan Frome fits into the archetype of a tragic hero.
Through using Ethan as a tragic hero, the author, Edith Wharton, is trying to convey the...show more
content...
Like most tragic heroes, the flaw that leads Ethan to his downfall is devastating. However, unlike
most tragic heroes, Ethan's hamartia is his isolation. As a result of his isolation, Ethan allows Mattie
to cloud his judgement, as she convinced him to take her on a suicidal sled–ride. Before doing this,
Ethan does not think about the possible consequences that his actions would have on both himself
and his community. As fate would have it, his deadly sled–ride plan fails, and instead of being dead,
both him and Mattie are left in critical condition. While Ethan is crippled on one side, Mattie was
left paralyzed from the neck down due to the impact. His rash decision to kill both him and Mattie
via sled–ride left him in a worse domestic position than he was in

2nde COURSEWORK – possible titles
Essay Topics
1. With reference to at least two characters in the novel Ethan Frome, show in detail how Wharton
uses setting to reflect character.
OR
Explore the different ways in which setting is used in this novel.
2. Choose two key scenes and explore how Wharton brings to life the tension (or the antagonism) that
exists between Zeena and Ethan.
3. Explore how Wharton creates suspense in the novel Ethan Frome.
4. Explore the ways in which Wharton arouses sympathy in the reader for the main character, Ethan
Frome.
OR
How far and in what ways does Wharton make Ethan Frome a sympathetic character?
5. Analyse the different ways in which loneliness is presented in Ethan Frome.
Text...show more content...
With reference to at least two characters in the novel Ethan Frome, show in detail how Wharton uses
setting to reflect character.
OR
2nde COURSEWORK – possible titles
Essay Topics
1. With reference to at least two characters in the novel Ethan Frome, show in detail how Wharton
uses setting to reflect character.
OR

4. Explore the ways in which Wharton arouses sympathy in the reader for the main character, Ethan
Frome.
OR
How far and in what ways does Wharton make Ethan Frome a sympathetic character?
5. Analyse the different ways in which loneliness is presented in Ethan Frome.
Text Analysis
1. Re–read from page 72 "Confused motions of rebellion stormed in him" to page 74 "Tears rose in
his throat and slowly burned their way to his lids."
How does the writer illustrate Ethan's changing emotions? How does this passage prepare us for
events to come?
2. Re–read from page 16 "When

Conflicts In Ethan Frome
The story of "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton bring many different themes into question and
conflict. One of these ideas is the dispute between ethics and morals versus personal desire. In the
story, Ethan wants to leave Zeena because she is shrewish, while Mattie is kind, gentle, radiant, and
a perfect match for Ethan. Ethan's desire to leave Zeena for Mattie is therefore completely
understandable. Yet, because Ethan knows that society standards in this time period would cause
him to be severely judged as a man who abandoned his wife. The author uses variety of literary tools
to help contribute to the theme morals and ethics versus personal desires. The setting, character, and
plot contribute to the theme morals and ethics versus personal desires....show more content...
Ethan wanted to become an engineer, but he had to end his studies due to his mother's illness. He
returns back to Starkfield to run the family sawmill and farm. Then Zeena becomes ill and uses
this as a weapon to get out of labor and to cowardly control Ethan. Her doctors recommend
bringing in a helping hand, so Zeena hires her cousin. As Zeena grows more "ill", she becomes
more dominant and oppressive like a dictator. Ethan begins to feel show sympathy towards Mattie,
thus causing the two to become affectionate toward each other. Later on, Mattie breaks the pickle
dish causing Zeena to become fulfilled with rage. She orders Mattie to leave, but Ethan knows he
could dishonorably get money from the Hales. His strict codes of ethics and morals will not allow
him to do such thing, so Mattie proposed the idea of suicide. Ethan prepares the sled to hit the tree,
but by him being full of morality it causes him to think of his wife and botch the suicide leaving
Mattie to become shrewish just as Ethan. Ethan's code of morality and ethics made him second
guess his decision to leave Zeena, which causes Mattie to lose her amazing personality and ending
his personal

In today's day in age many people are left out or may be considered some what outdated because
they don't use or understand technology. Just like in the book Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, Ethan
From is one character that is isolated. For Ethan he's very distant and no–one really tries to get close
to him because of what he's been through, which isolate's his life to just himself. Even after he get's
a wife named Zenobia, his house was silent after she grew ill. He's in loop of confusion and filled
with heartache. First, In the novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, there are many examples of
isolation, Ethan the main character is one example of isolation. Ethan at a young age had to care
for the farm and mill soon after his father had passed away. He left his education and career to do
so, he later had to care for his mother who fell ill. After this Ethan didn't really have a life of his
own, he had to help others and didn't receive any help for a while. Later, Zenobia had come to help
aid his mother, and yet somehow managed to aid Ethan along the way. To Ethan Zeena was an
escape from his loneliness. When his mother...show more content...
Ethan is troubled as his life begins to shift drastically, his father was kicked by a horse and
became mentally ill. With that he had to take over the farm, mill, as well as both his parents.
After a while his father passed away and his mother too had grown mentally ill, now he had to do
all the house work (Edith Wharton pg. 40). He needed help taking care of his mother so his
distant cousin Zenobia had come down to help him out. His mother ended up dying leaving him
all alone, with this he had seen Zeena as his escape, so he asked her to stay and later they got
married. As time grew Zeena grew ill and silent, which left Ethan no one to speak with, everyone in
town pitied him and tried to avoid him. Ethan was detached from his own reality, home, and

Analysis of Ethan Frome The strife between monogamy and the lust for another is often the cause of
a marriage ending before "death do us part." The challenges of infidelity in these situations often
shape the individual enduring them in mostly negative ways. The novel Ethan Frome presents a
main character facing an internal battle about responsibility versus his innate immoral nature, and
the author exposes this extended metaphor as a struggle to warn that the conflict between moral
standards and impulsive desires may have dire consequences. Metaphorically, the landscape of
Starkfield mirrors Ethan, and the position of his conflicted feelings towards his desires and
obligations by being portrayed as unpredictable and dangerous in times of distress. In outer
appearance, "He seemed a part of the mute, melancholy landscape, an incarnation of its frozen woe,
with all that was warm and sentient in him fast bound below the surface." The author describes the
character vividly in order to entrance the imagination into creating a vision of a man with many
secrets, and who has endured much physical and emotional pain...show more content...
In the instance one of Zeena's excursions for new medical treatment, "The two leaned forward at the
same moment and their hands met on the handle of the jug. Mattie's hand was underneath, and Ethan
kept his clasped on it a moment longer than was necessary." This forbidden affection is an
underlying symbol to the dish breaking. Ethan, not being true to his spouse, is the indirect cause.
The two lover's attempt to hide the broken plate ware is akin to their attempt to hide the forbidden
and unspoken relationship. After the pickle dish is discovered by Zeena, suspicion arises
surrounding the incidence, therefore foreshadowing the relationship's

Ethan Frome Themes
The two novels that I chose to discuss in this paper is the novel "Ethan Frome" by Wharton and "So
long, See You Tomorrow by Maxwell. The author, Edith Wharton allows the symbols in the book to
convey her reoccurring theme in this novel. Throughout history, relationships have evolved and gone
through dramatic changes based on the social norms at the time. This is because all three of those
characteristics were expected of relationships in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries,
but by now all of them seem to be purely optional. In the past, marriage and romantic relationships
were handled with a certain amount of formality. Society today seems to operate in a totally different
way. Men and women spend time together without being...show more content...
Being married to one person for over twenty years is treated as a rare occurrence, something that
has been rumored to be possible but is largely thought to be unattainable. Being in a relationship
used to be seen as a prelude to marriage, and marriage itself had a certain sanctity that was
protected by society in general. On the other hand, relationships can mean a number of things today.
Two people will enter into a relationship because they are insecure, to avoid loneliness, to rebound
from a previous relationship, or to simply enjoy the companion without any consideration of the
future; beginning a relationship with the hope that it will lead to marriage is extremely uncommon.
"[I]n earlier days going steady had been more like the old–fashioned 'keeping steady company.' It
was a step along the path to marriage, even if many steady couples parted company before they
reached the altar. By the early 1950s, going steady had acquired a totally different meaning. It was
no longer the way a marriageable couple signaled their deepening intentions. Instead, going steady
was something twelve–year–olds could do, and something most fifteen–year–olds did do. Few steady
couples expected to marry each other, but for the duration of the relationship, acted as if they were
married. Going steady had become a sort of play–marriage, a mimicry of actual marriage. (Bailey p.

Ethan Frome Analysis
Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, is an intriguing tale about (what seems to be) Ethan Frome's crash
and what leads up to it. The narrator starts by explaining what he knows of Ethan Frome and how he
knows it. This knowledge consists mainly of snippets of information provided by other people
around the town. From this limited perspective, the narrator explains how Ethan Frome came back to
Starkfield from college to help his parents with their farm, how he ends up caring for his parents,
then later Zenobia (his wife) and Mattie Silver. He ends up falling in love with Mattie and they both
get into an accident that permanently affects them both. 24 years later, the narrator ends up meeting
Ethan and staying at his home during a storm. The narrator...show more content...
He meets Zenobia and Mattie as well. However, there's no meaningful conversation between the
narrator and either of these two characters, thereby limiting the perspective of the narrator. The fact
that the narrator's perspective is limited implies that he's making up elements of the story because
there are events and opinions that the narrator has no way of verifying. An example of this is the
fact that in the narrator's telling of the story, Mattie loves Ethan to the point where she can't live
without him, and suggests that he steers a sled "into the big elm" (71) to kill them both. However
there isn't anything outside of the narrator's story to suggest that she felt this way. The narrator
mentions that he got the story "bit by bit, from various people, and...each time it was a different
story" (1). This affects how the story plays out because we only (supposedly) know what's going on
inside the mind of the young Ethan Frome, not getting a chance to verify the accuracy of the scene
with the thoughts of someone who was actually

Ethan Frome Essay
Ethan Frome 'He was but the ruin of a man'. What factors have contributed to Ethan's tragic fate?
The first factor which adds to Ethan's tragic fate is time. The book is mainly set in the nineteenth
century and in those times things like divorce and adultery were less acceptable. Ethan would have
felt morally wrong to leave this wife working on a poor farm or just leaving her money. Ethan's
birth into a poor family and in the time he was born, meant that he couldn't really do anything so he
was left unhappy. There was no welfare state in the nineteenth century America so again Ethan had
to accept the burden of looking after his parents and wife, paying all of Zeena's medical 'needs' with
no help. Ethan must have found...show more content...
There was no telephone, radio, television, buses or cars. If you needed to contact someone it had to
be by foot or horse and Ethan '[had] been in Starkfield too many winters' so the season, added to
Ethan's plight. Even when the railroad had been introduced it had left them 'side–tracked' because
before 'there was considerable passing'. This left Ethan and his family even more alone and
desolate from the rest of the country. The second factor is the place the novel is set in. The name
Starkfield is suggestive of deprivation and lifeless souls, all contributing to Ethan's hardship. The
main season in the novel is the 'enemy' of winter. Edith Wharton uses the climate to match the
feelings of people in Starkfield, walking with a 'sluggish pulse'. Wharton uses a military metaphor
on page seven, 'Storms of February had pitched their white tents About the devoted village and the
wild cavalry of March winds had charged down to their support'. As I was saying before, the
presence of Ethan in Starkfield for the whole of his life has added to his plight. The metaphor is
showing how the residents of

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