The story happenss against cold hard weather at the new england state. Ethan frome is a novel by edith wharton that was first published in 1911. The ethan frome quotes below are all either spoken by zenobia zeena frome or refer to zenobia zeena frome. As a stranger to starkfield, he views ethan frome s story with fresh eyes and operates as a conduit between the closely guarded story of frome s tragedy and the reader in the world outside the novel. Ethan frome cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. In chapter 1 of ethan frome we are sent back in time about 24 years, and we find young ethan frome walking on a snowy, moonless night to some mysterious purpose 1. Ethan frome begins with an engineer who is temporarily staying in a small town in massachusetts. The story ethan frome is rich in allegories which point out the disordered and chaotic life of all of the main characters, especially ethan. Though zeena complains and criticizes, ethan prefers to suffer in silence, leading to his attraction to the upbeat mattie. A sledding accident with mattie, which was an attempted suicide, results in his physical disability. Choose two key scenes and explore how wharton brings to life the tension or the antagonism that exists between zeena and ethan. He is definitely the protagonist of this book, because most of the novel focuses on. Because we see mattie only though ethan s and the narrators eyes, and only hear her thoughts.
Ethan frome is a novel by edith wharton in which the title character, ethan, struggles in his marriage to his wife, zeena, and falls in love with her cousin mattie soon. Ethan frome study guide contains a biography of edith wharton, literature essays. Throughout the whole book, we always feel the great impression of constraint on ethan, mattie and zeena. Ethan is characterized by the contrast between his actual occupation and the job he wishes he had. He is a thoughtful, sensitive, and extremely unhappy man. People in new england farming communities led a difficult, culturally void existence. The book ethan fromeby edith wharton demonstrates this idea expressed in carroll smithrosenbergs essay the hysterical woman. Ethan frome suffered tragedy because of his character flaws, errors in his judgment, and forces beyond his control. Edith whartons ethan frome is a classic of american literature, with compelling characters trapped in circumstances from which they seem unable to escape. Ethan frome cliffsnotes study guides book summaries.
Young ethan frome walked at a quick pace along the deserted street, past the bank and michael eadys new brick store and lawyer varnums house with the two black norway spruces at the gate. A ruin of a man, according to the narrator, he is still a striking figure. An analysis of the memorable classic turned film of 20th century american literature. Character ethan frome, the main character in the book entitled ethan frome, by edith wharton, has many complex problems going on at the same time. A nightmare of need in the book ethan frome by edith wharton, ethan, the main character in the book, experiences many episodes of isolation persuading him to escape from and cope with them with outlets of hope, only leading to a life of permanent isolation. Ethan frome was a difficult read because, much like the movie titanic, you know the ship is going down but you still kind of hope it wont or that therell at least be enough life boats. The protagonist of the story, ethan is a farmer whose family has lived and died on the same massachusetts farm for generations. Character analysis of ethan frome 714 words bartleby. One can distinguish several kinds of constraintsit is clear that zeena is not affected by exactly the same problems as ethan or mattie. A sensitive figure, ethan has a deep, almost mystical appreciation of nature, and he feels a strong connection to the youth, beauty, and. Ethan frome, published in 1911 by edith wharton, is the story of a man who is trapped by duty. The book is about society in general and this attracts many readers.
Ethan frome by edith wharton setting analysis freebooksummary. In ethan frome, edith wharton created characters who were terrible at expressing their feelings. Edith wharton packs a lot of heartbreak into her 1911 short, and arguably darkest, novel, ethan frome. In edith whartons novel, ethan frome, setting plays an important role. Ethan frome study guide contains a biography of edith wharton, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Ethan frome is the novellas protagonist and tragic hero. The setting takes place in a small town called starkfield. The novel was published in 1911, set in the fictitious town of starkfield, massachusetts, whose naming is a subtle overture to the book s mood. Zeenas character is revealed through ethan s memory and the action of the main story, and through hints from characters in the frame story. Ethan frome characters from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Ethan frome, a mild mannered yet weak willed young man, trudges through his days in a haze of hopelessness. The setting greatly influences the characters, transportation, and activities.
Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. That he remains nameless highlights the thinness of his character. Though protagonists usually drive the plots action forward, ethan is extremely passive. Ethan frome is set in the fictional starkfield, massachusetts during the late 1800s to early 1900s. Protagonist of the novel, ethan is a miserable, passive man weighed down by his inability to contend with unfortunate circumstances. He finds it difficult to express himself, being as frozen in character as the winter landscape. Or explore the different ways in which setting is used in this novel. Ethan lives on a large farm where there are no neighbors for quite a ways, which allows for him to stay secluded and become depressed as the story progresses because starkfield is a place that you seemingly get stuck in. According to goodreads, the novel form of ethan frome receives 3. Mary thompson ethan frome analysis in edith whartons novel ethan frome, setting is an important element. Yet, to find the best quote and there is more than one. Ethan frome married a woman, zeena, he was lonely and not truly in love with her.
However, these follies cannot be dismissed as fate, for it is ethans own choices that decide his future. Many see their hometown as wonderful and enjoyable, but in the novel, ethan frome, by edith wharton, the small town of starkfield, massachusetts has a sort. It is the story of starcrossed lovers, ethan frome, and mattie silver, the. Poor ethan frome is placed in a very sticky situation in ethan frome. Ethans entire life is marked by poverty and his indecision and doubt. The frame is the narrators vision of the tragedy that befalls ethan frome. Because of a carpenters strike the narrator, an engineer, spends his summer in a small massachusetts town called starkfield. This study guide consists of approximately 60 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of ethan frome.
For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Repetitive patterns of imagery are an important part of ethan frome. It is set in the fictitious town of starkfield, massachusetts. Love is an extremely evident key message in ethan frome, because of ethan and matties love for each other. Ethan frome is a 1911 book by american author edith wharton. The love between mattie in ethan starts off as shy, childlike flirting, and as far as readers know, ethans love for mattie is unrequitted love. The novel was adapted into a film, ethan frome, in 1993. Ethan frome by edith wharton meet your next favorite book. Character analysis ethan frome a ruin of a man, according to the narrator, he is still a striking figure. Within the first page or two you have a fair, though not absolute, idea of the outcome of the story.
The main character was established as outreach farmer who tends to his very cold, aggressive and disturbed wife named zeena. The son of starkfields rich irish grocer, michael eady, and sometimesuitor of mattie silver. He appears to be tall, though his strong shoulders are bent out of shape. After the sledding accident with ethan, mattie becomes a vegetable and a dynamic character, because she can no longer take care of herself, and her bubbly personality evaporates. He begins as a sensitive young man with a desire to leave the small town and see more of the world. This novella is different from the kind of books wharton usually wrote involving the upper classes from which she came. Opposite the varnum gate, where the road fell away toward the corbury valley, the church reared its slim white steeple and narrow peristyle. The space between the 52yearold ethan of the prologue and the 28yearold ethan of chapter 1 is waiting to be filled in by the rest of the story. Ethan frome is a study in frustrated desire and ambition.
Dr kinnicuttt said that ethan frome was a classic that will be read an reread with pleasure and instruction. The protagonist of the novel and its tragic hero, ethan is 28 years old in the main narrative and 52 years old in the frame story. The space between the 52yearold ethan of the prologue and the 28yearold ethan of chapter 1. As a stranger to starkfield, he views ethan fromes story with fresh eyes and operates as a conduit between the closely guarded story of fromes tragedy and the reader in the world outside the novel. He doesnt actively make decisions to take control of his life. Explain how the setting of ethan frome contributes to the telling of the story. The narrator sees ethan frome and begins to ask the local gossips about him. See a complete list of the characters in ethan frome and indepth analyses of ethan frome, zenobia zeena frome, and mattie silver. Instead, he is driven by the events and circumstances of his life. Ethan barely supports himself, his wife zeena, and his wifes cousin mattie working his farm and operating a sawmill. Ethan frome published by eddie wharton was set in starkfield, massachusetts in 1904. The frame story takes place nearly twenty years after the events of the main story and is written in first person, revealing the thoughts and feelings of the narrator.
Ethan frome begins with the curiosity of the narrator. How do these repetitive patterns help the reader interpret character and action. Print word pdf take our free ethan frome quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your. His family has died and he has a wife that is continually sick, and the only form of happiness he has is from his wifes cousin mattie. Jun 20, 2019 the book ethan fromeby edith wharton demonstrates this idea expressed in carroll smithrosenbergs essay the hysterical woman. The readers first meet ethan frome and hardly guess anything about his terrible tragedy, the narrator cannot get the details from the native citizens, just mrs. A sensitive figure, ethan has a deep, almost mystical appreciation of nature, and he feels a strong connection to the youth, beauty, and vital spirit of mattie silver, his wifes cousin. Ethan frome is a harrowing tale of one mans bitter failures in life. This is a major difficulty for a book that centers its plot around the. Ethan frome characters from litcharts the creators of. Ethan fails to fulfil any of his ambitions to move to a town, become an engineer, or run away with mattie.
Ethan frome for generations ethan fromes family has lived in the small massachusetts town of starkfield. Wharton describes zeenas physical appearance as gaunt, wrinkled, and sallowfaced. The novel takes place in the fictional town of starkfield, massachusetts, in the. Considering that ethan is the protagonist and hero of ethan frome, he sure doesnt do a lot. Denis is the focus of ethans jealousy in the novels early chapters. The character of zenobia zeena frome in ethan frome from.
His family has died and he has a wife that is continually sick, and the only form of. Zenobia zeena frome quotes in ethan frome the ethan frome quotes below are all either spoken by zenobia zeena frome or refer to zenobia zeena frome. Ethan frome thug notes summary and analysis youtube. Ethan frome character analysis essay 1021 words 5 pages. Other essays on ethan frome character analysis american dream essay 765 words 4 pages the american dream is the quintessence of a comfortable victorious life, which often includes material prosperity, a house, an improved life for ones kids, and sometimes. The novel is framed by the literary device of an extended flashback. Edith wharton wrote ethan frome as a frame story meaning that the prologue and epilogue constitute a frame around the main story. Although ethan frome was not a commercial success when it was first written, many critics praised the novel.