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The Role Of Conflict In Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome

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In the book Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, Ethan Frome was simply imprisoned in a love triangle with his wife, Zeena Frome, and her cousin, Mattie Silver, until death fell upon him. Mattie Silver was who he longed for with great desire, but he was held by the chains of his ill wife who wished to rid of her. Why had Ethan Frome not just divorced his wife? This is what one may inquire and one may apprise the inquisitor that Ethan Frome followed the rules of society by isolating his true self from it by not speaking up. Nevertheless, if he did not follow the rules, he would simply be looked down upon by his peers. This divulges the true internal conflict of not just a man, but a person not using their voice and being imprisoned by their troubles for life by following the rules of society. The silent one is not living, but merely existing. Moreover, considering the conflict, Ethan Frome only existed throughout his life. He never of his troubles to anyone. This only leads him to be trounced against himself, which did not benefit anyone around him but the opposite. Mattie never got to fully express her love for him and Zeena never got to get rid of her. It only caused Mattie and Frome to later endeavor suicide together by sled. Frome possessed a mouth with an opportunity to articulate his thoughts …show more content…

Wharton elucidated this memorandum using the exemplification of Ethan Frome’s life; more specifically his internal struggles (e.g. Ethan couldn’t physically admit his love for Mattie), his decisions (e.g. Ethan did not bother trying to win against Zeena to prevent Mattie from being banished from their homes) and showing us the outcome where Ethan attempted suicide. Ethan Frome grew silent following the rules of society. It only made him appear mysterious among others which is emphasized by the narrator. Wharton compels everyone to not exist but to

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