Edith WhartonKate Chopin
The main characters depicted in both Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome and Kate Chopin's The Awakening undergo a personal struggle in their attempt to deal with the universal emotion of love. Ethan Frome and Edna Pontellier each are married, but in love with another person. During the time in which the stories take place it is socially unacceptable for them to divorce or have an affair; and both characters are aware of the views of society. Ethan and Edna are in situations that do not please them, and have an inner need or desire to be with someone else. Ethan Frome falls in love with his young servant, who is also his wife's cousin. Edna Pontellier is infatuated with a man she met while vacationing, Robert Lebrun. Because of marriage they are unable to openly pursue the objects of their affection. The desire of their hearts leads them both to secretly maintain relationships outside their marriage, and ultimately causes their demise. Of the two, Edna is more accepting of her amorous feelings and leaves her husband, moving out of his house. Although she was
" She also shows little regard for her children, for "she would sometimes gather them passionately to her heart; she would sometimes forget them. Ethan was forced against his will to send Mattie away by his sick wife. Edna immerses herself in dreaming of Robert; "the thought of him was like an obsession. Frome contemplates running away and starting a new life with his lover, Mattie Silver, but lacks the monetary funds necessary to purchase train tickets. Ethan Frome is afflicted with the same type of feelings as Edna, but he is in a different situation, mainly financial. Eventually, when Robert refuses a relationship with her and leaves, Edna is so distraught that she commits suicide by drowning herself at the very place that Robert taught her to swim. fond of her husband in the beginning of their marriage, she felt "unaccountable satisfaction that no trace of passion or excessive and fictitious warmth colored her affection. " Ethan has no help in his quest to win the heart of Mattie; he cannot even get an advance payment from the sawmill owner to finance an escape with her. Edna also shuns the society that looks upon her actions disapprovingly, refusing to entertain callers. " She does not feel any sense of duty or responsibility to her family, and is not even faithful to her love for Robert Lebrun because she has a sexual relationship with Alcee Arobin. Each was cursed with manipulative spouses, but only Edna stood up for herself and disobeyed her husband. Although their romantic affairs were secretive, Ethan and Edna each had a relationship with their lover that was visible to their husband or wife. The pianist strengthens Edna's feelings of love towards Robert by telling Edna of his love for her, increasing her resolve and determination to be with him. He refuses to lie in order to get the money that would enable him to get away, because he would then be deceiving the people or the society that pitied him and his situation with his wife.
Common topics in this essay:
Robert Lebrun,
Mattie Ethan,
Mattie Silver,
Ethan Edna,
Silver Ethan,
Ethan Frome,
Mademoiselle Reisz,
Arobin Edna,
Edna Pontellier,
Eventually Robert,
ethan frome,
ethan edna,
edna pontellier,
robert lebrun,
mattie silver,
sense responsibility,
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Acceptance Essays
