ipl-logo

The Theme Of Despair In Wharton's Ethan Frome

359 Words2 Pages

I have been left with a feeling of despair after reading Ethan Frome. This novel was very challenging to read, but even more challenging to comprehend. This bleak novel is an account of the bitter life of Ethan Frome as the narrators perceives it to be. Wharton used a frame story to compare the Ethan Frome in the past and present. The narrator meets Ethan Frome in the beginning and then starts to piece together information about Frome’s life and how he managed to remain in the dreadful town of Starkville. 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

Show More
Related

  • Ethan Frome Character Analysis Essay

    492 Words  | 2 Pages

    After a small time of being married to Ethan, Zeena became sick herself. Throughout the story Zeena went from being a nurse to a patient, only to return to her role as being a nurse for both Ethan and Mattie, the help. In Edith Wharton’s naturalist novel Ethan Frome, the main character, Zeena, is a jealous, hypochondriac who ends up becoming the most responsible character in the novel.

    Read More

  • Stereotypes In Ethan Sanford

    54 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ethan Sanford is an 15 year old boy. Through out his whole school life people thought of him as frolicsome... Others thought he was outgoing,but honestly they have no idea. Behind the smiles and jokes is a crestfallen boy. That 's until he meets Jessica Overton.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Isolation In Ethan Frome

    116 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ethan Frome, who has to face multiple conflicts throughout the book with his nonstop dream to be an engineer which is crushed due to the illness of, Zeena, his cousin, but who also happens to be his wife. Also a love begins to grow mid way through the book between a girl named Mattie and Ethan, even though he is still married to Zeena which ultimately leads to the distance between their love. In the book Ethan Frome, the feeling of isolation in Ethan and Zeena becomes more prominent, while anger grows between Ethan and Mattie from having denying their love, which contributes to the many mistakes and downfalls Ethan has to face throughout the book.

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Ethan Frome

    1300 Words  | 6 Pages

    In the novel Ethan Frome the character Ethan displays many characteristics of which have always either been or have become American in nature, for better or for worse. Some of these characteristics are follow-through, tough-as-nails work ethic, and a seemingly unbreakable moral code. However romantic these characteristics are it is truly subjective to all people as what can constitute the term American. The first characteristic that the man Ethan Frome displays

    Read More

  • Isolation In Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton

    650 Words  | 3 Pages

    He feels as though she has taken away his chance to live in the big city and fulfill his dream life. Zeena should be Ethan's happiness because she is his wife but instead, she is his burden. One’s outlook on life can be seriously affected by their mental state just like

    Read More

  • Theme Of Sympathy In Ethan Frome

    675 Words  | 3 Pages

    Yash Shrivastava The Power of Sympathy Sympathy is the strongest emotion. Sympathy can cause pain and suffering but can also bring joy and delight to society. No matter how far back you go, you will always find some form of authority in the community, whether in the social hierarchy, a place of work, or even a friend group. In Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, Mattie seems to lose Zeena's trust, although by losing Zeena's faith, she can gain Ethan's sympathy and has higher control over Ethan, who does have Zeena's trust.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Irrational Decisions In Ethan Frome

    836 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the novel “Ethan Frome”, many of the characters made irrational decisions. Quite a few of which impacted their daily life, for example Ethan’s decision to marry Zeena. Once Mattie moved into their home to carry out the housework Zeena was unable to complete due to her debilitating illness, Ethan developed feelings for her which only led to more chaos in their household. Their love blossomed into a greater intimacy than Ethan and Zeena’s marriage ever was. Not thinking logically, they pursued each other in the same house as Ethan’s wife.

    Read More

  • What Is The Cause Of Change In Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome

    1043 Words  | 5 Pages

    From great risk, some fortunate few are able to reap the benefits. The title character of Edith Wharton’s “Ethan Frome” often toys with this notion but reaches an inability to act. With nothing risked there is nothing gained, effectively preventing his life from moving forward or backwards. Furthermore, risk does not always yield change, as sometimes the change is the risk, a deviation from the normality of one’s life. Ethan’s inability to take risks keeps his life stagnant, immune to change like a decomposed corps in a grave.

    Read More

  • Essay Summary In A Dog's Purpose

    704 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Ethan Frome

    308 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ethan, who knows how much the dish means to her, attempts to glue it back together to please her, unsuccessfully. . Another characteristic Ethan shows is that he is a reversed person. Like the rest of his family, Ethan is naturally quiet. He seldom

    Read More

  • Ethan Frome Quotes

    984 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mattie, Zeena and Ethan were all responsible for their own actions which resulted in them getting what they deserved. Ethan Frome was a young, 28 year old man, who lived in Starkfield, Massachusetts and was married to Zenobia Frome. Zeena helped care for Ethan’s mother when she was dying, which is how they got to know each other. After the death of his mother, Ethan began

    Read More

  • Ethan Frome Literary Analysis

    738 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Past In Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome

    667 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, Ethan Frome’s past contributes to the story more than any other character’s. The other main characters’ past may have been more difficult or life changing, but Ethan’s past definitely builds the story more. Ethan’s past builds his character more and dictates almost everything he does. This cannot be said for the other main characters in the story. Ethan’s farmhouse has always been home to loneliness.

    Read More

  • Comparing Ethan Frome And Fatal Coasting Accident, By Edith Wharton

    971 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ethan Frome and “Fatal Coasting Accident” Comparison Ethan Frome is a classic novel, written in 1911 by author Edith Wharton. She based the accident that occurred in her novel on the historical “Fatal Coasting Accident.” In Ethan Frome, the simplicity of the accident is similar to that of the “Fatal Coasting Accident”, but the details overall are very different. Edith knew one of the victims personally, which made her change some aspects out of respect, but she also changed them to make the story her own.

    Read More

  • Ethan Frome: A Personal Tragedy

    550 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ethan Frome's tragedy was completely caused by his own

    Read More

More about The Theme Of Despair In Wharton's Ethan Frome

Open Document