Themes: Frustration
Frustration is a key theme in Ethan Frome. Sometimes, this frustration stems from an oppressive environment, while at other times, it is rooted in the characters' personalities. Ethan's dreams of becoming an engineer are crushed by the need to look after his sick parents and manage the family farm. He had always envisioned "living in towns, where there were lectures and big libraries and 'fellows doing things.'" His marriage to Zeena is a source of frustration, not only because of her hypochondria and their lack of children but also due to their conflicting interests. "Other possibilities had been in him, possibilities sacrificed, one by one, to Zeena's narrow-mindedness and ignorance. And what good had come of it?"
Mattie faces similar constraints due to her poverty and lack of skills. Even Zeena experiences frustration. As the narrator notes, "She had let her husband see from the first that life on an isolated farm was not what she had expected when she married." Although Zeena detests Starkfield, she could never have adjusted to a new town that looked down on her, so the couple never moved away. The theme of frustration is further highlighted by the characters' inability to express their emotions in Ethan Frome. None of them are skilled in articulating their feelings. Wharton even described the characters in the novel as her "granite outcroppings." While walking Mattie back to the farm, Ethan, overwhelmed with joy in her company, struggles to find a "dazzling phrase" to impress her but can only mutter, "Come along." Frustration is also apparent in Ethan and Mattie's longing for each other. Their physical contact, though filled with desire, is mostly confined to secretive handholding. When Ethan sees Ned Hale and Ruth Varmus kissing under the Varnum spruces, he feels "a pang at the thought that these two need not hide their happiness."
Expert Q&A
Why are Mrs. Hale's final lines in Ethan Frome significant?
"I said it right out to our mister once, and he was shocked at me. Only he wasn’t with me that morning when she first came to…
And I say, if she’d ha’ died, Ethan might ha’ lived; and the way they are now, I don’t see’s much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard…"
Mrs. Hale's final lines highlight the tragic outcome of Ethan and Mattie's failed suicide attempt. She suggests that had Mattie died, Ethan might have lived a fuller life, as he is now trapped in a joyless existence with a bitter, invalid Mattie and his cold wife, Zeena. By comparing the Fromes at the farm to those in the graveyard, Mrs. Hale underscores their lifeless, miserable state, implying that death might be preferable to their current suffering.
In Ethan Frome, is Ethan Frome a victim of circumstance? Explain.
Ethan Frome is both a victim of circumstance and his own choices. Circumstances such as caring for sick parents and marrying Zenobia influenced his life path. However, Ethan's sense of duty and failure to pursue his dreams also played a role. He could have made different choices, such as selling the farm or pursuing education. His affair with Maddie and the fateful sled ride were conscious decisions, highlighting his agency in shaping his fate.
In Ethan Frome, what three uncontrollable facts keep Ethan a prisoner for life?
The impact of the lack of communication in Ethan Frome
The lack of communication in Ethan Frome significantly impacts the characters' lives, leading to misunderstandings, unfulfilled desires, and tragic outcomes. Ethan's inability to express his feelings to both Zeena and Mattie creates a sense of isolation and desperation, ultimately contributing to the novel's tragic conclusion.
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