Student Question

Does the character Ethan Frome display any homosexual tendencies?

Quick answer:

Ethan Frome does not explicitly display homosexual tendencies. While he is portrayed as a disillusioned and sensitive character, there is no direct correlation between his depression and any homosexual inclinations. The complexity of his circumstances may lead to self-questioning, but this is not necessarily indicative of homosexuality. Exploring this topic further through literature, such as articles like "Cold Ethan and 'Hot Ethan'" and "Ethan Frome and the 'Springs' of Masculinity," may provide additional insights.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Sexuality is also a tricky subject, in literature as well as in life, and it's not always possible -- try as people might -- to put someone else in a neat little box. Your question is good, of course, and if you want to continue to explore the subject, I would recommend that you do a literature search, using a good database (such as MLA) and key words such as "ethan frome" and "sexuality." You'll need to find an institution (such as your school) that subscribes to that database.

Two articles that are likely to show up in your search are: "Cold Ethan and 'Hot Ethan'" (1987) and "Ethan Frome and the 'Springs' of Masculinity" (1996). These articles aren't all that easy to read, but I bet that you'll get something from them and will be encouraged to explore the topic further.

In any case, I hope that you will move past stereotypes such as whether or not a male character being "sensitive" or "indecisive" is a sign that he is gay.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Ethan Frome certainly is a very disillusioned man with a frustrating set of circumstances that have prevented him to live his life to the fullest, but I do not see any correlation between his depression and any possible homosexual tendencies.

However, I do want to say that under the conditions that he was, confusion of self and life is imminent, and if he had found himself questioning his own sexuality it would not have been any differently than when he question his own relationship and fell for Mattie. In fact, the conundrum that he felt was open to many questions about himself he could have asked and he was indeed quite sensitive, but I do not believe that he was gay.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial