Ethan Frome: An OverviewEthan Frome: An Overview

•Written byWritten by: : Edith Wharton in 1910 while Edith Wharton in 1910 while she was living in Paris.she was living in Paris.

• Setting takes place in the late 18th century Setting takes place in the late 18th century in Starkfield, Massachusetts.in Starkfield, Massachusetts.

• Story line has a nice Romeo & Juliet Story line has a nice Romeo & Juliet parallel…with a twist or two.parallel…with a twist or two. • A fine example of Tragic Romance…A fine example of Tragic Romance…

• Major conflictMajor conflict: : focus on Ethan’s ongoing focus on Ethan’s ongoing struggle with his conscience…how societal struggle with his conscience…how societal norms (and physical surroundings) can often norms (and physical surroundings) can often be oppressive.be oppressive.

Symbolism, Themes, and Symbolism, Themes, and such…such…• Symbolism:Symbolism:– Mattie’s red scarf/ribbonMattie’s red scarf/ribbon

•What is the symbolism of the color What is the symbolism of the color REDRED??

• How does this compare/contrast with How does this compare/contrast with Red Red BadgeBadge??

•We’ll later contrast this with the green light in We’ll later contrast this with the green light in GatsbyGatsby

– Zeena’s pickle dish…and catZeena’s pickle dish…and cat• How do the two of these compare and contrast?How do the two of these compare and contrast?

– The sled runThe sled run• Are there multiple forms that “escape” can Are there multiple forms that “escape” can

take?take?

• ThemesThemes::– Society and its moralitySociety and its morality

•How/why does society impose limitations?How/why does society impose limitations?

– WinterWinter• What effect does winter have on humans?What effect does winter have on humans?

– Unrequited love & desireUnrequited love & desire– The author’s use of ForeshadowingThe author’s use of Foreshadowing

•What clues does foreshadowing give the What clues does foreshadowing give the reader?reader?

• Why do you think the author uses this literary Why do you think the author uses this literary vehicle?vehicle?

Painting the stark, Painting the stark, foreboding pictureforeboding picture

(p. 5): “That Frome farm was always ‘bout as bare’s (p. 5): “That Frome farm was always ‘bout as bare’s a milk pan when the cat’s been round.”a milk pan when the cat’s been round.”

(p.5): “Sickness and trouble: that’s what Ethan’s (p.5): “Sickness and trouble: that’s what Ethan’s had his plate full up with, ever since the very first had his plate full up with, ever since the very first helping.”helping.”

(p.21): “Then he had a distinct sight of his wife lying (p.21): “Then he had a distinct sight of his wife lying in their bedroom asleep, her mouth slightly open, in their bedroom asleep, her mouth slightly open, her false teeth in a tumbler by the bed.”her false teeth in a tumbler by the bed.”

(p.46): “I’m a great deal sicker than you think.”(p.46): “I’m a great deal sicker than you think.”(p.50): “Ethan look at her with loathing. She was no (p.50): “Ethan look at her with loathing. She was no

longer the listless creature who had lived at his longer the listless creature who had lived at his side in a state of sullen self-absorption, but a side in a state of sullen self-absorption, but a mysterious alien presence, an evil energy secreted mysterious alien presence, an evil energy secreted from the long years of silent brooding…”from the long years of silent brooding…”

The sun breaks through the The sun breaks through the clouds…clouds…(p.3): “I began to see why Starkfield emerged from its (p.3): “I began to see why Starkfield emerged from its

six months’ siege like a starved garrison capitulating six months’ siege like a starved garrison capitulating without quarter.”without quarter.”

(p.14): “She had an eye to see and an ear to hear: he (p.14): “She had an eye to see and an ear to hear: he could show her things and tell her things, and taste could show her things and tell her things, and taste the bliss of feeling that all he imparted left long the bliss of feeling that all he imparted left long reverberations and echoes he could wake at will. It reverberations and echoes he could wake at will. It was during their night walks back to the farm that he was during their night walks back to the farm that he felt most intensely the sweetness of this felt most intensely the sweetness of this communion.”communion.”

(p.20): “The cry was a balm to his raw wound. The iron (p.20): “The cry was a balm to his raw wound. The iron heavens seemed to melt and rain down sweetness.heavens seemed to melt and rain down sweetness.

(p.40): “The sudden heat of his tone made (p.40): “The sudden heat of his tone made her colour mount again, not with a rush, her colour mount again, not with a rush, but gradually, delicately like the reflection but gradually, delicately like the reflection of a thought stealing slowly across her of a thought stealing slowly across her heart.”heart.”

(p.63): “…and he laid his lips on her hair, (p.63): “…and he laid his lips on her hair, which was soft yet springy, like certain which was soft yet springy, like certain mosses on warm slopes, and had the faint mosses on warm slopes, and had the faint woody fragrance of fresh sawdust in the woody fragrance of fresh sawdust in the sun.”sun.”

Ethan’s ConflictEthan’s Conflict

(p.13): “…but not long afterward he had (p.13): “…but not long afterward he had reached the point of wishing that Starkfield reached the point of wishing that Starkfield might give all its nights to revelry.”might give all its nights to revelry.”

(p.16): “Of late, however, there had been no (p.16): “Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions. Zeena herself, from an apprehensions. Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade. All his life was lived in insubstantial shade. All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of it being otherwise.could no longer conceive of it being otherwise.

(p.35): “The cat…backed into the pickle-dish, (p.35): “The cat…backed into the pickle-dish, which fell to the floor with a crash.”which fell to the floor with a crash.”

(p. 48): “It was the first scene of open anger (p. 48): “It was the first scene of open anger in their sad seven years together.”in their sad seven years together.”

(p.50): “You mean to tell her she’s got to go – (p.50): “You mean to tell her she’s got to go – at once? …Ethan looked at her with at once? …Ethan looked at her with loathing.”loathing.”

(p.56): “Zeena, I’ve done all I could for you, (p.56): “Zeena, I’ve done all I could for you, and I don’t see it’s been any use…I’m going and I don’t see it’s been any use…I’m going to try my luck West, and you can sell the to try my luck West, and you can sell the farm and mill, and keep the money…”farm and mill, and keep the money…”

(p.57): There was no way out - none. He was (p.57): There was no way out - none. He was a prisoner for life, and now his one ray of a prisoner for life, and now his one ray of light was to be extinguished.”light was to be extinguished.”

And a resolution…And a resolution…

(p. 59): “The passion of rebellion had broken (p. 59): “The passion of rebellion had broken out in him again…He had made up his mind out in him again…He had made up his mind to do something, but he did not know what it to do something, but he did not know what it would be.”would be.”

(p.61): “He was a poor man, the husband of a (p.61): “He was a poor man, the husband of a sickly woman, whom his desertion would sickly woman, whom his desertion would leave alone and destitute…he turned and leave alone and destitute…he turned and walked slowly back to the farm.walked slowly back to the farm.

(p.71): “Right into the big elm. You said you (p.71): “Right into the big elm. You said you could. So ‘t we’d never have to leave each could. So ‘t we’d never have to leave each other any more.”other any more.”

The IronyThe Irony

(p.76): “…but she’s had the strength given (p.76): “…but she’s had the strength given her to care for those two over twenty years, her to care for those two over twenty years, and before the accident came she thought and before the accident came she thought she couldn’t even care for herself.”she couldn’t even care for herself.”