In the book Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton the main character, Ethan is overcome with responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are implied but Ethan's life is still affected by them. These responsibilities, implied or expressed, lead Ethan's life down the path it took. Some of the responsibilities were as simple as taking care of the farm, others complex such as marrying Zeena, and taking care of her and not leaving her in her sickness.
             One of Ethan's implied responsibilities is the running of the family farm. Ethan grew up in a small farm town in Massachusetts called Starkfield. One of his goals in life was to get out of Starkfield and become something. "His father's death, and the misfortunes following it, had put a premature end to Ethan's studies." This also ended Ethan's quest to get out of Starkfield for now, since Ethan couldn't leave his mother to run the farm while he was in college; so he dropped out and returned home. He felt he had a responsibility to take over the family farm and mill and become the man of the house.
             Another of Ethan's responsibilities was marrying Zeena; this was more of a moral responsibility then anything else. After Ethan's mother grew ill Ethan's cousin Zeena came from a neighboring town to care for her. After a few years Ethan's mother died and Zeena was no longer needed. Ethan felt bad however and out of fear of dying alone and moral obligation to compensate her for giving up part of her life to nurse his mother, "He asked her to stay there with him. He had often thought however that it would not have happened if his mother had died in spring instead of winter." This shows that he wouldn't have felt as obligated if the weather was more appealing for a young girl to go back home and look for a job. In addition, after marrying her he has given up all hope of returning to school and getting out of Starkfield.
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