All of these things occurred and yet Ethan Frome pushes on, at war with his own life. Ethan was miserable because his life was miserable. When his only source of happiness dissipates, he forever separates himself from contentment because of all of his unfortunate
Ethan was an intelligent lad who found himself in an unfortunate situation. His despair starts when he has the obligation to tend to his ill mother. He then marries his mother’s caretaker, Zeena, out of a moral obligation, but ends up having
Ethan thinks his actions through and realizes the guilt he would have if he left Zeena in Starkfield with the farm, in
Doomed to remain in an ever-stagnant state of being like that of the bones of his past ancestors deep in the frozen ground of cemetery that houses them. As his own antagonist, he forces himself to be frozen in his death while still breathing by never taking a risk to change his fate of ending up being buried beside his wife in Starkfield while he longed for another. Whether progressive or detrimental, Ethan time and time again refuses to take his life into his own hands and make decisions to change it. In the end, Ethan truly is a dead man walking, accepting his life as it was and simply waiting it out until it’s
After undergoing months of physical therapy, Ethan returns to the farm to finish high school with Hannah. Later, things are not going well for Ethan, including his leg injury, his breakup with Hannah, and his parents divorce. Years after, Ethan goes off to college, and Bailey stays on the farm with only visits from Ethan on the holidays. Bailey gets older and his health worsens, he is weak and naps often. Ethan’s mom takes him to the vet and Bailey is put down
The quote also gives the idea that it is grim in Starkfield but the color red, representing desire, showed more than just a plain town. Overall, the significance that the gravestone of Ethan Frome and Endurance his wife took, related to the novel's theme of fate greatly. This moment in the story was not the only sign that changed his view on his marriage and living in Starkfield, but the pickle jar and the color red too. Ethan was shook and knew he did not want his future to end up living the same life in Starkfield after seeing the gravestone.
At the beginning of the book, the narrator mistakes Ethan for an old man describing him as bleak and withdrawn from society, “and he was so stiffened and grizzled that I took him for an old man.” (4) Like the winter season that often blankets Starkfield and impedes Ethan’s ability to get around, Ethan’s life is also encumbered by his family obligations. “Somebody had to stay and care for the folks. There wasn’t ever anybody but Ethan.” (6) Like a bitter cold, endless winter, Ethan has always been burdened by caring for physically and mentally ill family members.
In Edith Wharton’s novel, Ethan Frome, the author uses symbolism to add depth to the story. Throughout the novel the cat embodies Zeena presence even if she is not in the room. The pickle-dish and the breaking of it symbolizes Ethan and Zeena’s marriage. Many different emotions and feeling are represented by the color red. Edith Wharton uses symbolism to add to the story.
Right after the dish breaks, Ethan said that Zeena would have to blame it on the cat. In chapter 7, Ethan blames the cat which caused Zeena to “turn her eyes to Mattie” (Wharton, chap 7). This could also mean that Zeena blames Mattie for breaking the dish and relationship. In chapter 6, Ethan gets the glue to fix the dish. Symbolically it could mean that he found a plan or a way to fix his relationship.
"It was along time since any one had spoken to him as kindly as Mrs. Hale. Most people were either indifferent to his troubles, or disposed to think it natural that a young fellow of his age should have carried without repining the burden of three crippled lives. But Mrs. Hale had said 'You've had an awful mean time, Ethan Frome,' and he felt less alone with his misery." Mrs. Hale's comment showed all Frome wanted was to be understood and included but his fear of what the towns people thought of him prevented him from even trying to take part in any of the town activities and just hiding nearby until Mattie was done. The characterization of Mrs. Hale and Slim showed that all the main characters wanted was to be accepted but their own actions portrayed their lack of trust of
Ethan flirted with Mattie and would try his hardest to impress her, for example, he began shaving his face everyday which he never used to do for Zeena. These inappropriate actions caused chaos within the household. Ethan began to lust over Mattie, wanting to spend as much
Both Zeena and Ethan have varying responses, however both showing some commitment to repair their union. In Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton utilizes a broken pickle dish, to represent the views of espousement, and the representation of their varied human actions. Ethan and Zeena Frome’s marriage represents a union based on obligation rather that love. Throughout the story, Ethan is a weak and submissive husband under the control of a domineering wife.
The nature of the Frome’s marriage was made transparent when Ethan fell in love with another woman. When the novel begins, Frome demonstrates his cowardice when confesses that he
Ethan’s bad choices of leaving school, feeling lonely and marrying Zeena and then also being avoidant when he wants to leave her. Obviously, Ethan Frome’s tragedy is all caused by his personal decisions. One of many ignorant choices Ethan makes is when his mother gets ill, somewhere in the beginning of the story. During this time, Ethan dropped out of college.
