Edith Wharton's 'Ethan Frome' is a novella that explores the themes of passion, constraint, and the consequences of personal choices against the backdrop of Starkfield, Massachusetts. The story uses a frame narrative to reveal the tragic life of Ethan Frome, his unfulfilled ambitions, and the impact of Mattie Silver, the cousin of his ailing wife Zeena. Symbolism, duty, desire, and the irony of fate play crucial roles in this poignant tale.
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The use of a frame narrative allows for a multi-layered perspective on the events of Ethan Frome's life
Ethan's Sacrificed Ambitions
Through flashbacks, the novella reveals how Ethan's familial duties and societal expectations led to the sacrifice of his personal ambitions
The Arrival of Mattie Silver
The introduction of Mattie Silver into the Frome household through flashbacks sets the stage for the development of Ethan's forbidden desires
The Color Red
The color red is a recurring symbol in the novella, representing forbidden passion and the breaking of societal norms
The Sled
The sled serves as a symbol of both joy and tragedy, representing Ethan and Mattie's desire for escape and the consequences of their actions
The novella explores the conflict between societal expectations and personal desires through Ethan's struggle between duty and his love for Mattie
The story's tragic irony is exemplified through Ethan's attempt to escape his circumstances, which ultimately binds him even more tightly to his grim reality
The enduring impact of Ethan's choices is depicted through his physical and emotional scars, symbolizing the inescapable nature of his circumstances
Ethan is portrayed as the tragic hero, torn between duty and desire, and ultimately trapped in a loveless marriage
Zeena is characterized as the hypochondriac wife, whose presence adds to the oppressive atmosphere of the story
Mattie represents youth and hope in the story, and her relationship with Ethan serves as a catalyst for the events that unfold
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The novella '______ ______' by ______ ______, set in rural New England, explores themes of desire, limitation, and the impact of choices.
Ethan Frome
Edith Wharton
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Frame narrative introduction character
Unnamed narrator, an engineer visiting Starkfield.
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Ethan Frome's enigma source
Local residents' accounts reveal Ethan's past.
