Character notes for 'Ethan Frome' - Zeena and Ethan

-This results in the reader suspecting hypochondria or at least exaggeration rather than any real ailment.

• zeenas only talent appears to be caring for the sick, however and no point during the novel does Edith Wharton display her as being nurturing or showing any sense of vitality until the end. When Ethan and Mattie are both disabled and it falls to zeena to care for them and even then she seems to do it out of sense of duty not showing any care whatsoever to either party .- ‘the remains of a cold mince pie in a battered pie dish, set down her unappetizing burden’
• this descriptions in the book however are from Ethan’s point of view, him being the protagonist of the novel. these views may be impartial due to zeenas obvious passion to Mattie as they seem to be compared all the way through the novel as being opposites.

Ethan:

• Although the opening and conclusion of the novel is told by the narrator most of the novel focuses on Ethan’s perspective and centers on his actions. We are allowed to access most of his thoughts and feelings in the lead up to his personal crisis as he is the protagonist of the story. –‘his head reeled and he had to support himself against the table. All the while he felt he was still kissing her and yet dying for the thirst of her lips’
• we sympathies for Ethan, mainly as he is the main character but also as even though he is committing this adultery and betrayal of his wife we understand his motivation due to the descriptions of both women.
• The two themes in Ethan Frome seem to be the conflict between passion (Ethan’s love for Mattie) and social convention (Ethan’s duty to his wife) , and  the harsh personal affect of the winter climate of starkfield . both themes conspire to make up Ethan- weighed down by his unfortunate circumstance of his bitter existence of a poor farmer trapped in  Starkfields frozen landscape even though he could have made something better of himself.-‘most of the smart ones get away’
• His entire life seems to be a victim of circumstance- his dreams of leaving Starkfield and becoming an engineer, his passion for Mattie, all crushed by his parents illnesses and zeenas illnesses, and of course the smash up.-‘he looks like he’s dead and in hell now’ –throughout the book he is punished for attempting to break free of Zeena and escape with Mattie, the smash up and the fact that he didn’t manage to escape has left him living in his worst nightmare- still under Zeenas harsh spell with a disabled Mattie. Unable to face the consequences of any decision, he elects to attempt to escape all decisions forever.
• Despite all this Ethan appears to be portrayed (before the smash up) as something of a young hero, a strong character.-‘muscles swinging to their familiar task’ this shows perhaps the narrator is admiring of Ethan or to show the contrast between the former Ethan to the  stiffened and grizzled Ethan post smash up.

Mattie

• Mattie’s presence in he Frome household is what sets all the events of the 3 and a half story in motion.
• She seems to be more of a background character as we don’t know much about her true thoughts and feelings (not sure whether she feels for Ethan as he feels for her) until the end of the book.
• Mattie is described always related to warmth and light and sound, this distinguishes her from Zeena- the very opposite- ‘a bit of hopeful young life was like the lighting of a fire on the cold hearth’ 

The cold hearth being Zeena.This quote shows that Mattie is everything zeena is not, perhaps why Ethan feels so passionately about her, she symbolizes the temptation.

• Mattie can also be distinguished and related to the colour red which primarily represents passion.-‘the color of her cherry scarf in her fresh lips and cheeks’ 
• In the end of the novel Matties real self is revealed as her adolesance shines through for the first time not through innocence but through recklessness ‘right into the big elm, you said you could so t’ we’d never have to leave each other anymore.’

This is the one moment in the novel where we can see her personality, ready to give in to the foolish thoughts without thinking. However even though she is being reckless, putting the protagonist ‘hero’ of the story into danger the reader can forgive her, for being young an innocent and because she is described so definitely all the way through the book as being Zeenas stark opposite.

• Although the reader is rooting for mattie and Ethan the last chapter shows how young and flighty mattie really is. Is any of this actually worth it to Ethan? Showing mattie in the slightly absent minded light makes the reader questions Ethan’s actions. agree they about being with mattie forever or escaping Zeena forever.