The War Between Passion and Responsibility in Ethan Frome Essay

The War Between Passion and Responsibility in Edith Whartons Ethan Frome

One recurring theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility. In Edith Whartons 1911 novel Ethan Frome, set in 1881 Starkfield, Massachusetts, the protagonist Ethan Frome confronts the demands of a private passion with Mattie Silver that conflict with his responsibility to his wife Zeena. Ethans anticipation of his night alone with Mattie, his night in his study, and his attempt to commit suicide reveal how Ethans passion is quelled by his moral duty to his wife Zeena.

When Zeena decides to go see a new doctor in Bettsbridge, Ethan is excited to learn that he will be spending the night alone with Mattie in the Frome house. Prior to his night alone with Mattie, he envisions what his night will be like. He pictures himself alone with Mattie for the first time inside, sitting together like a married couple while conversing and laughing, something Zeena had not done with Ethan for six years. (Ethan Frome 60). The idea of being alone with Mattie and not having Zeena around to torment him [sends] his spirit up in a rush (60). When suppertime finally arrives, Ethan sees that Mattie has prepared stewed blueberries, doughnuts, and pickles in a beautiful red dish. Matties efforts to make the dinner special suffocate Ethan with happiness (72). After dinner, Ethan and Mattie share innocent conversation by the fire. Ethan secretly wants to see Matties face as he talks to her, so tells her to come sit in Zeenas chair closer to the stove. As Mattie sits in the chair, Ethan sees Zeenas face in Matties. She notices the momentary shock in Ethans face and returns to her seat (78). Because he saw Zeenas face in Matties and was reminded of his moral obligation to Zeena, Ethan is not able to pursue his passion for Mattie on their special night alone. As the night commences, Mattie and Ethan retire to their rooms without any feelings of guilt.

After Zeena returns from the doctor and informs Ethan that Mattie must leave immediately, he spends the night alone in his study, pondering what he will do. Ethan is both devastated and furious that Mattie must leave Starkfield. Ethans affection for Mattie causes him to devise a plan so that he may keep her in his life. He decides to leave Zeena and travel out to the West with Mattie. As he begins to write a goodbye letter to Zeena, he comes upon the subject of money. At first, Ethan says that she can have everything. He then remembers the relentless conditions of the lot (115). The farm is worth barely one thousand dollars and if he gave everything to Zeena, he would have nothing to start a new life with. Knowing that he cannot give Zeena enough to survive on and that she is not in good enough health to take care of herself, Ethan is reminded of his duty to her as her husband and he sacrifices his owns wants to be her prisoner for life (117).

As Ethan is driving Mattie to the train station, the two lovers decide to commit suicide by coasting down into an elm tree. Before they reach the coasting spot, the two have their first intimate conversation in which they tell each other when they first fell in love. Ethan even tells Mattie that she looked as pretty as a picture when he saw her at the picnic by Shadow Pond (134). Mattie shows liking towards Ethan by telling him that she had never seen such sharp eyes as his when he found her lost locket (134). They then reach the big hill and decide to go coasting since they had talked about it but never went. After going down the coast one time, Mattie suggests the idea of committing suicide to Ethan. At first, he tells her that she is crazy. Mattie tells him that she does not want to leave him and she does not know how to get along by herself. As she says this, Ethan is reminded of how he believed that if Mattie had to be on her own in Stamford, that she would become a prostitute. This thought kills Ethan. He thinks of the life he has to go back to, and of the woman who would be there with him. His irrational thinking causes him to agree to commit suicide with Mattie. As they go down the big hill, Zeenas face with twisted monstrous lineaments pops into Ethans mind (147). This vision reminds Ethan of his moral duty to Zeena and the thought causes him to go off the path a little. His hesitation right before the big smash up proves that Ethans affection for Mattie is always conflicting with his moral duty to his wife, Zeena (4).

The classic war between a passion and responsibility is consistently shown in Edith Whartons novel Ethan Frome. Ethans feelings of affection towards Mattie Silver conflict with his responsibility to his wife Zeena. This constant quarrel is proved through Ethans anticipation of his night alone with Mattie, which results in the two going to their own rooms with out any feelings of guilt; his night in his study, in which he decides to sacrifice his own happiness to stay and support Zeena; and his attempt to commit suicide, in which Ethan shows regret.

Word Count: 890

Quote Count: 10

Work Cited

Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome. New York: Signet, 2000.