Ethan Frome and Naturalism
... Ethan felt the day Zeena told him that Mattie was to go. “He looked at her with loathing. She was no longer the listless creature who had lived at his side in a state of sullen self-absorption, but a mysterious alien presence, an evil energy secreted from the long years of silent brooding.” On the other hand, all Zenobia wants is for her love to be returned. As she said, “He took my satchel from my hand, and said my name, Zenobia, and my own heart was moved by him for the rest of my days.” All she wants is for Ethan to give to her love and devotion. When she realizes that this love is unattainable, meanness and bitterness sets in. “Meanness came and filled up the spaces where love was not.” Ethan blames Zeena for ruining his life. She has held him captive by refusing to move to the city and thereby forces Ethan to stay on the farm and make a living there. Then Zeena’s chronic illness ends Ethan’s hope of escape. All his hard work pays for her doctors and medicines, and he cannot leave her alone and destitute. In this book there are many references to coldness, darkness and sickness. Usually when one of these is mentioned, Zeena or an allusion to her will turn up. When Zeena is first shown standing in the doorway of the kitchen, her image is the epitome of ugliness. “She stood up tall and angular, one hand drawing quilted counterpane to her flat breast... drew out of the darkness her puckered throat and the projecting wrist of the hand that clutched the quilt, and deepened fantastically the hollows and prominences of her high-boned face under its ring of crimping-pins." The kitchen “had the deadly chill of a vault,” and she is surrounded by darkness. Zeena embodies her surroundings. Starkfield is a bleak and lonesome place similar to the isolated valley in which she lives, cut off from society. Where Zeena is hag-like and sickly in the frame of the doorway, the light of the fire that Mattie has lit transforms her from a slim and pretty young girl into a shapely, beautiful woman. The cold, dark, spare kitchen has metamorphosed into a warm, inviting, homey haven. Zenobia contests that she was only thirty-five when Edith describes her so repulsive. When Zenobia was younger she was graceful, and tall, and then to prove to Edith that she does not only stand for darkness she describes how pretty her black hair shone in the light. Zeena is consumed by her illnesses, which is what she uses to control Ethan. By being an invalid, she can also use it as an excuse to do or say anything. Except, Zenobia has become sick because of the pain and hurt that Ethan has caused her. The feelings of alienation and disgust are written clearly on his face every time his gaze lands upon her face, or her teeth. All she needs is a little attention from the one she loves yet “Night after night he turned his back to me.“ Zenobia weeps over who she has become “dislikable as he saw me.” However, Zenobia is still is able to think of others, like Matt...