Emotion in Ethan Frome Essay

Ethan Frome, written by Edith Wharton, is a marvelous novel that contains countless numbers of themes that touch the lives of people even today. Set in the odd, gloomy, desolate town of Starkfield, Ethan Frome explains one's need for affection, and belonging in society, sometimes only brought about by tragedy. The themes of the novel solely surround the main characters of Ethan Frome, Zeena Frome (Ethan's wife), and Mattie Silver (a distant cousin of Zeena's). The most important theme in this novel deals with the emotional status of Ethan Frome. The appearance, character, and actions of Zeena Frome and Mattie Silver provide an emotional rock for Ethan to stand upon, as well as base his decisions upon.

In society, no matter what age or era of our world, appearance is everything. Appearance is like money/wealth. Depending on how much you have, and/or how valuable it is, determines how, where, and when you spend it. In this case Ethan is not faced with wealth, but poverty. Zeena Frome is not physically attractive, and by seeing a "flat breast...puckered throat...projecting wrist..." (27) and a "high-boned face" (27) Ethan thought that "he had never known what his wife looked like" (27). Even though Zeena was only "seven years her husband's senior, and he was only twenty-eight, she was already and old woman" (33) On the other hand, Mattie Silver is slender, sweet, pretty, and has a "young brown head. The narrator even goes as far as to say that Mattie has "fresh lips and cheeks" (28) Even when Ethan is around Zeena, Mattie was "the rosy haze of his hour. Mattie's appearance attracts Ethan; however, Zeena's repulses Ethan. Upon going to sleep, Ethan "undresses hurriedly and blew out the light so that he should not see her when he took his place at her side" (29). As the narrator states, the only thing that allows Ethan to go to sleep was "one sensation...: the warmth of Mattie's shoulder against his" (29). Ethan desired the "crimson" (42)

As Zeena notices that Mattie is taking over Ethan, and vice-versa, she begins to treat Mattie as "a hired girl" (59) instead of her "relation" (59). No forgiveness is in Zeena's heart. Although Mattie is not that great of a housekeeper, she tries and never gives up. Yet, despite Mattie's hard work and devotion to Zeena, the climax occurs when Mattie breaks the pickle jar. Zeena is told by Mattie, after Ethan's lie to protect her, that "I'm the one to blame for getting it broken" (65). Even though Mattie is willing to take the blame and tell the truth, Zeena is unforgiving and judging stating "You're a bad girl Mattie Silver, and I always known it" (66). "It was formed of Zeena's obstinate silence, of Mattie's sudden look of warning, of the memory of just such fleeting imperceptible signs as those which told him...that before night [death] there would be rain [turmoil]" (31).

Despite one's appearance and/or character, a person's actions define him/her. From Mattie come symbols and actions of love. As the novel progresses Mattie begins to care even more about Ethan than Zeena. After "unwinding her wraps, the color of the cherry [love] scarf in her fresh lips and cheeks", and spending the day with Ethan, Mattie says "I'm so sorry, Zeena! Isn't there anything I can do?" (28). The narrator also tells the reader that Ethan even thinks that Mattie had made "two or three gestures...he had thought she kept for him" (18). Even the way Mattie dressed astounds Ethan; "She wore her usual dress of darkish stuff, and...through her hair she had run a streak of crimson ribbon. This...glorified her. She seemed to Ethan taller, fuller, more womanly in shape and motion" (42). Zeena is the exact opposite. After realizing that Mattie and Ethan are to close for her comfort, she plans to get rid of Mattie. Infuriating Ethan, Zeena says "You didn't suppose I was going to keep two girls, did you?" (59). Zeena's actions are also full of "criticism, complaints, [and] vague allusions" (59). Zeena's actions led to Ethan's "loathing" (61) and "antipathy" (61) of Zeena because "She had taken everything else from him, and now she meant to take the one thing that made up for all the others [Mattie]" (61). The only thing that pleased Zeena "was to inflict pain on him" (67). Ethan's frustration with Zeena, and his will to be with Mattie is shown when Ethan "flung it [only piece of needle work from Zeena] across the floor" (67). Although Zeena believes that Mattie "took the one I [Zeena] cared for most of all" (66), Ethan left her for Mattie because of her appearance, character, and actions.

This world revolves around people, and people are defined by there appearance, character and actions. Two defining, and totally opposite people, in Ethan's life are Mattie and Zeena. Mattie's beautiful and young appearance for outdid Zeena's old, boney body. This heavily attracted Ethan to Mattie than to Zeena. Mattie was also hardworking, and showed her love to Ethan in her actions, where as Zeena was sick, grumpy, had complications, and was only out to make Ethan feel pain. Unfortunately for Ethan and Mattie, fate held the three together, and life in gloomy, desolate Starkville would end there as well.