Ethan Frome Character Analysis Essay

In Ethan Frome, there are many examples of imagery and literary devices that are used throughout the book. While Ethan is walking near the church he notices that “all its waking life was gathered behind the church windows, from which strains of dance-music flowed with the broad bands of yellow light”. This is an example of imagery because of the descriptive way the author is describing the church window. This passage is also important because of the window between Mattie and Ethan represents the distance between them at this moment in time, which pertains to the literary devices shown throughout the book. Another example is when Ethan and Mattie were on a date and “the cat, profiting by this unusual demonstration, tried to effect an unnoticed

This quote was found on page 13, in the introduction when Harmon Gow is explaining to the narrator who Ethan Frome is.

“On the way over to the wood-lot one of the greys slipped on a glare of ice and cut his knee; and when they got him up again Jotham had to go back to the barn for a strip of rag to bind the cut. Then, when the loading finally began, a sleety rain was coming down once more, and the tree trunks were so slippery that it took twice as long as usual to lift them and get them in place on the sledge” (Wharton chapter 6). This observation from Ethan Frome portrays naturalistic conflict by displaying the harsh environment's impact on the character’s actions. Additionally, the author's use of slippery ice and sleety rain during their everyday tasks conveys how the character struggles against nature’s forces. Realism in art and literature arose in the mid-19th century as a response to the idealism of the

Ethan Frome is a victim of his own personal choices and temperament. Ethan constantly ignored tension between Zeena and Mattie, and also never stood up for himself so that he could’ve left with Mattie to the west throughout Ethan Frome. He tries to, sometimes, but doesn’t completely make it all the way. He eventually does what he wants, but never succeeds, ends up where he started at, the Frome family farm in Starkfield. Ethan Frome runs into a girl wearing a red fascinator, and discovers the girl is Mattie Silver.

The novel, Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton is set in early 1900s New England; more specifically Starkfield, Massachusetts. The name of Frome’s hometown itself is ironic for how it is portrayed in the story. Due to the “stark”ness of the town and surrounding areas it affects all of the characters and adds to the somber tone of the story. The long and harsh winters affect how all members of the community interact through their daily lives.

Throughout life people always say listen to your conscious and “follow your heart”, but can this task be accomplished? Although it sounds simple, it takes a special skill to solely follow your conscious or what is known as the ego portion of your subconscious. In the book, Ethan Frome, the character’s of Mattie Silver, Zeena Frome, and Ethan Frome all have different personalities based on their subconcious. Zeena bases her life on her “id” subconscious and her behavior has no filter. However, Ethan and Mattie’s behavior can be described as being based on their “superego” and “ego” subconscious, respectively. Throughout the book, the primary influence upon the characters actions continue to be heavily influenced by the “second voice” (subconscious) in the back of their heads.

An ineffective hero, known as a tragic hero, possesses many characteristics. Ineffective heroes are doomed from the beginning, but most importantly, are wounded physically or emotionally, in most situations, as a result of their own flaws. Ethan Frome of Edith Wharton's novel, Ethan Frome, possesses characteristics of an ineffective hero. He suffers from the beginning of the novel, stuck living with his sick parents, and as a result of his flaws, he marries Zeena and falls for Mattie, resulting in both his physical and emotional fracture. However, Ethan cannot succeed and ultimately suffers, as a result of his neediness.

Edith Wharton uses Mattie to express isolation and being lonely. She comes to the country with ribbons in her hair and more joy in herself. She wanted to free Ethan from the terrible society he lived in. Life in Starkfield is bleak and boring. No one comes outside or enjoys themselves. This is mainly why Ethan wants to escape the barren and poor neighborhood. Ethan is also isolated as well. He opposes society mainly because he cannot be with the one he loves and he doesn’t want to ruin his marriage to Zeena as well. When Zeena falls ill, she goes to the doctor for a couple of days and returns only to find her expensive china now ruined. Angry, she tells Ethan that she needs more hired help and plans to send Mattie away. Upset, Ethan did not know what to do . He decided to write a letter to Zeena telling her to run the farm and be by herself. However, he

In Edith Wharton’s novel, Ethan Frome, one major critical theory revolves around the psychological criticism. The novel revolves around this critical theory because Wharton wanted the reader to observe how the setting becomes dependent on the emotional state of the character and vice versa. Throughout the novel, Wharton makes changes to the environment to represent Ethan’s fondness for certain characters. On the contrary, Wharton displays how the setting directly influences Ethan’s mental state. As the reader perceives this influence that each character has on Ethan Frome, they can develop an understanding of the relationships established in the novel. This critical theory will be expressed throughout the literary analysis paper, specifically in the Novel Summary section and Literary Criticism sections. The following text will analyze the drastic changes in the environment and compare it to Ethan’s mental state.

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.

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.

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

In The Morality of Inertia, Lionel Trilling argues that Ethan Frome’s inability to make his own ethical decisions ultimately makes his ‘smash-up’ a tragic event caused by the inactivity of morality. The nonexistence of this moral inertia is the explanation, for Trilling, for the outcome of Frome; the lack of moral responsibility in any of the main characters from the beginning of their lives paralyzes their decision making process-- they simply exist and do what is their duty. Trilling’s aspect that Frome was a morally inadequate man is a valid fact affirmed by Edith Wharton’s provided background of him; the idea that he was unable to make choices and is only capable of enduring can be proven inaccurate with

When an author crafts a book page by page, allusion and metaphors alike they tend to include their own life into the book. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton creates direct parallels between her love life and the characters in the book love life. She Creates a character Named Ethan, Mattie, and Zenobia who clearly represents herself, Morton, and her husband Edward during their love life crisis. In writing this book she was able to find a therapeutic end to the sexual conflicts and social contracts she was bound by in the early 1900s.

Both Dade and Julian where fixated on proving themselves right and defending their beliefs about