Makes Ethan example essay topic

Ethan Frome Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome inspires many different thoughts on the way a person from a rural background lives. Although the beginning and end of the book are told from a narrator's point of view, most of the novel concerns Ethan Frome's actions and view on life. Ethan is by far the most round character in the novel, giving us access to most of his thoughts. Ethan is generally a sympathetic character, while his wife Zeena is very unsympathetic. Ethan lives a life of many struggles. Personal issues, lying, and decision making are among Ethan's problems.

Ethan Frome dreams of escaping his dark lonely farm to live a life outside of Starkfield. Ethan also dreams and wishes that Mattie was his wife. For example the book states "Her wonder and his laughter ran together like spring rills in a thaw" (40). One dream comes true for Ethan, but the dream of leaving Starkfield does not.

Ethan lives a somewhat boring life; he walks to the Post Office every day and lives what seems to be a dark unhappy continuing adventure. However Ethan does realize that he has a responsibility towards his wife and his farm. Ethan sees life in two different perspectives; life with Mattie and be happy, or live with Zeena and not be happy. He has trouble on how to decide and deal with this problem of his, because he has not lived a fantastic life. One of Ethan's downsides is lying. He tends to blurt things out and then regret what he has said.

For example, the book says "As soon as the words were spoken he regretted them, not only because they were untrue... but also because he knew from experience the impudence of letting Zeena think he was in funds on the eve of one of her therapeutic excursions" (55). Because he lied he realizes that he will have to ask Hale for money, and he knows Hale will not pay. Meanwhile in Betts bridge, Zeena will spend more then Ethan can afford. So as you can see his lies dig him in deep holes, therefore creating a downside to his personality. In the novel more negative points are expressed toward Ethan, making the reader sympathetic for him. He works on his farm quite well but he doesn't enjoy it, therefore just making him more of an unhappy person.

To make himself feel better he preys on innocent Mattie Silver and wins her love. This makes Ethan feel more comfortable with his life. Winning Mattie's love obviously upsets Zeena, which leaves Ethan in a bigger conflict then before he met Mattie. It's seems as if now Ethan will have to make a decision, which leads to the final point.

Ethan's decision making is his worst characteristic. He flat out stinks at making decisions. This is an internal conflict within Ethan and he is quite afraid to face it. In fact the only real decision he makes is not actually made by him, it is made by Mattie. It is the decision to sled into a tree and commit suicide. This is a major point in two ways.

First it will get rid of all Ethan's troubles and worries. Secondly and most importantly, this makes Ethan unable to face consequences for any decision that he has made in the past. In the end Ethan's tragic sleigh ride is an attempt for him to escape all decisions, forever. Though the two do not end up dieing the attempt to kill themselves was the most important concept. In the novel Ethan Frome lives an unhappy life. During his life decisions come up that he cannot make, creating a large conflict for Ethan.

Edith Wharton portrays Ethan as a very poor man in attempt to make the reader sympathetic towards Ethan. Because the reader feels bad for Ethan it is hard to see that he really struggles, and has life ahead of him if he would make some decisions and grab that opportunity by the tail. In the end, Ethan lives a sad life which makes for a suicide attempt. The attempt backfires and Ethan lives an even more unhappy and poor life.