Ethan Frome

             Ethan Frome, a novel by Edith Wharton, tells the story of a man who no longer loves his wife, and falls in love with her cousin. Ethan Frome married a older woman named Zeena, with whom he has fallen out of love. Mattie Silver, Zeena's cousin, moves in to live with the Frome's and to help them out around the house. Ethan falls deeply in love with Mattie, and cannot wait to see her everyday. While he cannot wait to see Mattie, the sight of Zeena now sickens him, and makes him question the idea running away with Mattie. Although being with Mattie Makes him happy, he married Zeena, and Ethan feels that he must honor his marriage vows and not show his true feelings for Mattie. In the novel, Ethan Frome, the author, Edith Wharton, shows the internal conflict of Ethan Frome.
             Ethan Frome struggles internally over the thoughts of Mattie and Zeena. He absolutely loves Mattie and cannot imagine his life without her when Zeena plans to replace her. Ethan loved Mattie from as soon as he met her. Ethan's favorite parts of being with Mattie were the walks back to their farm. Ethan looked forward to these for weeks in advance. Though he saw her every day, he enjoyed the walks home the most: "...but no moments in her company were comparable to those when her arm in his, and her light step flying to keep time with his long stride, they walked back through the night to the farm..."(p. 29). Ethan loves the walks home with Mattie simply because he gets to be alone with Mattie. He loves simply feeling her body next to his as they walk close together to stay warm. Ethan truly loves everything about Mattie.
             Ethan absolutely loves Mattie and cannot live without her. On the other hand, the sight of Mattie puts him in a bad mood, and he cannot live another day with his wife, Zeena. Everyday he must see Zeena, and he cannot get the idea of leaving his hideous wife, and running away with Mattie out of his head. He becomes s
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Ethan Frome . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 09:51, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/63963.html