Ethan Frome A Tragedy
Ethan Frome is a tragic tale by Edith Wharton. It is a story about Ethan Frome who is obligated to the demands of his farm, his cruel wife, Zeena, and has a doomed love for Zeena’s energetic cousin, Mattie Silver. ... Ethan Frome exhibits all of the aforementioned characteristics. Although tragic heroes are traditionally of noble birth, Ethan Frome is not which makes this story uniquely American. Ethan is a farmer whose family has lived and died on the same Massachusetts farm for generations. ... Sadly, Ethan lacks the internal strength that he needs to escape the harsh forces of convention, climate, and his sickly wife, Zeena. ... Ethan Frome has one, very prominent tragic flaw. ... ” Had Ethan not stayed to care for his dying mother, he might not have ended up with Zeena, who was originally the nurse for Ethan’s mother, and could have found someone, in Florida perhaps, who was more suitable for him. ... Ethan’s fate is that he must spend the rest of his life crippled and taking care of two sickly women that he was, at one time, in love with.