Ethan Frome: A Stark Portrait of Duty and Desire
Ethan Frome: A Tragic Tale
Zeena: The Unconventional Wife
Zeena, Ethan’s wife and cousin, defies traditional stereotypes. Unlike the young, beautiful wives often depicted, Zeena, at 35, appears older than her 28-year-old husband, with false teeth, wrinkles, and a frail appearance. This stark contrast with Mattie highlights Zeena’s unconventional nature. Her connection to Ethan through both marriage and family reinforces a strong sense of duty.
Mattie Silver: A Glimmer of Hope
Mattie Silver, also Zeena’s cousin, embodies a delicate beauty. Her name, with its connotations of preciousness yet secondary value, suggests her inability to replace Zeena. An orphan from a poor background, Mattie’s love for beauty and nature contrasts sharply with the bleakness of Starkfield. The irony lies in the reversal of fortune after the “accident,” where Mattie becomes the incapacitated one, dependent on Zeena’s care.
Zeena’s Triumph and the Power of Duty
Despite the implied betrayal, Zeena remains, bound by a sense of duty to her family and community. Her control over the situation, reminiscent of a chess player, allows her to exert a form of revenge as both Ethan and Mattie become reliant on her. Some scholars have even likened Zeena to a vampire, drawing strength from the illnesses of others.
Narrative Structure and Point of View
The story unfolds in three parts: prologue, story, and epilogue, each employing a different narrator. The prologue introduces a first-person narrator who arrives in Starkfield, encountering the crippled Ethan and the desolate landscape, hinting at a past tragedy. The main story shifts to a third-person omniscient narrator, delving into Ethan’s inner world. The epilogue returns to the first-person narrator, who pieces together the story through conversations with neighbors.
A Stark and Simple Style
Wharton’s prose is characterized by its simplicity, devoid of excessive ornamentation. While dialogues drive the narrative, imagery and symbolism are used sparingly yet effectively.
Symbolism of Winter and Isolation
The story’s setting emphasizes the coldness and isolation of winter, reflecting the trapped emotions and strained relationships of the characters. Images like the “dead cucumber vine,” the elm tree, and the graveyard reinforce this sense of despair. Starkfield itself, with its name suggesting stiffness and sterility, contributes to the overall bleak atmosphere.
Symbolic Moments and Interpretations
Key moments are imbued with symbolic meaning. The cat breaking the dish during Mattie and Ethan’s brief moment of respite represents the shattered marriage. Ethan’s vision of Zeena just before the sledding accident underscores her inescapable presence. Mattie, described as “a butterfly in winter boots,” offers a fleeting image of hope against the backdrop of despair. The recurring theme of illness suggests a community stifled by social constraints, where only those who adapt, like Zeena, can survive.