Ethan Frome

Edith Wharton filled her novels with a feeling of ruin, passion and restriction. People can fall in love, but rarely do things turn out well.But but few of even her books can evoke the feeling of "Ethan Frome," whick packs plenty of emotion, vibrancy and regrets into a short novella. While the claustrophobic feeling doesn't suit her writing well, she still spins a beautiful, horrifying story of a man facing a life without hope or joy.It begins nearly a quarter of a century after the events of the novel, with an unnamed narrator watching middle-aged, crippled Ethan Frome drag himself to the post-office. He becomes interested in Frome's tragic past, and hears out his story.Ethan Frome once hoped to live an urban, educated life, but ended up trapped in a bleak New England town with a hypochondriac wife, Zeena, whom he didn't love. But then his wife's cousin Mattie arrives, a bright young girl who understands Ethan far better than his wife ever tried to. Unsurprisingly, he begins to fall in love with her, but still feels an obligation to his wife.But then Zeena threatens to send Mattie away and hire a new housekeeper, threatening the one bright spot in Ethan's dour life. Now Ethan must either rebel against the morals and strictures of his small village, or live out his life lonely. But when he and Mattie try for a third option, their affair ends in tragedy.Wharton was always at her best when she wrote about society's strictures, morals, and love that defies that. But rather than the opulent backdrop of wealthy New York, here the setting is a bleak, snowy New England town, appropriately named Starkfield. It's a good reflection of Ethan Frome's life, and a good illustration of how the poor can be trapped.Even when she describes a "ruin of a man" in a cold, distant town, Wharton spins beautiful prose ("the night was so transparent that the white house-fronts between the elms looked gray against the snow") and eloquent symbolism, like the shattered pickle dish. There's only minimal dialogue -- most of what the characters think and feel is kept inside.Instead she piles on the atmosphere, and increases the tension between the three main characters, as attraction and responsibility pull Ethan in two directions. It all finally climaxes in the disaster hinted at in the first chapter, which is as beautifully written and wistful as it is tragic.If the book has a flaw, it's the incredibly small cast -- mainly just the main love triangle. Ethan's not a strong or decisive man, but his desperation and loneliness are absolutely heartbreaking, as well as his final fate. Mattie seems more like a symbol of the life he wants that a full-fledged person, and Zeena is annoying and whiny up until the end, when we see a different side of her personality. Not a stereotypical shrew."Ethan Frome" is a true tragedy -- as beautifully written as it is, it's still Wharton's description of how a man merely survives instead of living, hopeless and devastated.

Ethan Frome. Why did I read Ethan Frome? Well, first, it was free on Amazon. Second, there is a much deeper reason. I wanted to see if I had grown as a reader since high school. In 11th grade, I was assigned this book and the dreaded accompanying book report. I was in an advanced English class because of my writing skills. I liked to read, but this book looked boring. I made the mistake of trying to expand the description on the back cover of the book into a book report and fool my teacher (sorry Mrs. Grindy). Needless to say, it didn't work. Now, it's been almost 35 years since I graduated and I wanted to go back and read this book and, you know what, it was a pretty good story. It was kind of like reading the script to a chick flick. Unrequited love turns into be careful what you wish for. Ethan Frome thinks to much with "little Ethan" and ends up injuring himself and the object of his affection (his wife's cousin). They all end up living unhappily ever after in his rundown farm house.Now, about the writing style. As an author, I feel somewhat qualified to say that it was a bit disjointed. It started out with an unnamed narrator speaking about how the circumstances surrounding Ethan Frome were mysterious and that no one would give him the full details. He ends up hanging out with the man himself and the narration part ends when he joins Ethan at his home for dinner and to spend the night.It then launches into an awkward love story between young Ethan and his wife's cousin (his wife is actually his cousin too and they didn't even live in Georgia). It then turns back to the narrator at the end. I found this head hopping writing style a bit clumsy and was surprised that this venerated book was written this way.I have a niece and nephew that are both English teachers and I'm sure they find my hackneyed book report sub-par, but I feel that I've now met my requirement for the 11th grade English assignment. Was this the only one I tried to skate on? No. I pulled the same stunt with the "Heart of Darkness". Guess what book I'm reading next.

It was pretty good. I was forced to read this because of school, but once you start to read and understand everything, it gets easier and more entertaining. Wouldn’t recommend to everyone but I know a few who would enjoy it :)

A good story of the life a man whose life is guided by external forces. Ethan is a man locked in life that circumstances won't allow him to live his dream.The setting is in the back country of a wintery New England, Told by both the narrator and Ethan himself. it is the story of Ethan, stuck on a poor farm, in a loveless marriage trying to scape by. Ethan falls in love with his wife's cousin. He tries to plan an escape that ends in disaster.The setting is perfect for this dour tale of a man's life guided by the fates and the Victorian age.

Not really to my liking; on the other hand my daughter who is a writer, loves it.

Ethan Frome is the tale of a Massachusetts farmer, his unhappy marriage to Zenobia, and his love for her cousin, Mattie Silver, who lives with them as a housemaid.The skill of Edith Wharton is in showing the psychology of her characters; Zenobia's hypochondriacal bitterness; Ethan's psychological indebtedness to his wife and his consequent weakness in dealing with her; and Mattie's vulnerability are all brilliantly portrayed.The wintry backdrop and the bleakness of Starkfield, Massachusetts are beautifully described. The sparse intensity of the dialogue is superb and the inevitable tragedy of the story is deftly revealed.There is a slightly questionable use of point of view which detracts a little from the story, but nevertheless this is an outstanding book.

The kindle edition of this book was excellent. This is the first book by Edith Wharton that I have read and I now look forward to reading more. The pace of the book suits the subject matter and the evocative 'setting of the scene' was just right. I enjoyed reading this book. it is not a happy book however....