Ethan Frome1
They say that if you give a man the necessary tools and supplies, he will build himself a trap. This trap is made unconsciously; therefore, it cannot be escaped; the solution cannot be found. The only solution that suffices is to live with this trap, sadly, for life. But is it the only solution? In Edith Wharton's romantic, yet tragic novel Ethan Frome, the need for affection causes Ethan Frome to gradually shed his taciturnity and bring his emotions to life. Early in the novel, Ethan's passiveness and lack of self-confidence, allow his wife Zeena to emasculate him, as well as make him emotionally inarticulate toward Mattie. Once Mattie Silvers enters Ethan's life, she awakens in Ethan the bitterness of his youth's lost opportunities, and a dissatisfaction with his joyless life and empty marriage. Gradually, Ethan strengthens and gathers the courage to defy Zeena and confess his love for Mattie. At the start of his journey, Ethan surrenders himself to the forces of isolation, silence, and his depleted life. Soon his desire for love, in a situation where only abject coldness exists, transforms him into an emotional and confident man. Because of his emotional weakness, Ethan loses opportunities to reveal his passion
By being a semi-invalid, she can tell Ethan what to do. Ethan calmly endures her harsh accusations, and helplessly replies, "But you know it. He openly and clearly importunes that he will drive Mattie. After Ethan and Zeena finish fighting, Ethan comes downstairs where Mattie serves him his dinner, but he cannot eat. Now, Ethan begins to see what he failed to see before: Zeena removes herself from society and uses her feigned illness to control him. Every time Ethan tries to converse with his wife, all he ever hears are her complaints and demands. As he marvels at the young girl's beauty he thinks, "But hitherto the emotion had remained in him as silent ache, veiling with sadness the beauty that evoked it. Zeena's strong dominating personality emasculates Ethan, while Mattie's feminine, effervescent youth makes Ethan feel like a "real man. Wharton reveals the depth of Ethan's reaction with great passion and intensity: Ethan looked at her loathing. Ethan hoists Mattie's trunk onto the sleigh. Her energy and warmth excite him and allow him to escape from his lonely, monotonous life. Early in the novel, Zeena has the knack of making Ethan feels guilty about almost everything he does and thinks, especially after Mattie arrives. Zeena wickedly laughs at Ethan's face out loud and successfully deals him another blow below the belt. He fails to realize that his failing marriage is not his fault, but because Ethan feels responsibility for everything, Ethan senses he has no right to defy Zeena.
Common topics in this essay:
Mattie Ethan,
Starkfield Mistakenly,
Mattie Angered,
Ethan Frome,
Mattie Wharton,
Shadow Pond,
Zeena I'll,
Ethan Zeena's,
Ethan Mattie,
Gradually Ethan,
ethan frome,
mattie ethan,
ethan feels,
ethan tries,
ethan zeena,
ethan begins,
novel ethan,
drive mattie,
wife zeena,
ethan feels guilty,
meets mattie,
novel ethan frome,
tragic novel ethan,
|
Acceptance Essays
