Ethan Frome is a story with a tragic ending. It expresses the power of love and how far one will go for love. Even though Ethan is married, his love for Mattie Silver causes the two to partake in an unthinkable act. Edith Wharton uses this theme, illicit love to present "a drama of irresistible necessity." The emotion of Mattie and Ethan was very evident and could be felt by the reader. It's hard to believe that anything so classic could be such a page turner. This novel is recommended for anyone who wants to read a short, simple love story.
Read in one sitting. Wharton's writing and story-telling is superb here. Had me so deeply buried in the story that I was taken aback when the picture outside my window was one of green grass and swaying trees instead of the white frigid stillness of winter. Don't pass this one up just because it is most commonly seen on an English Lit class's syllabus. Great.
Edith Wharton's best known novel. Ethan Frome is a tragic figure. On the one hand, Ethan lives a dreary existence on his unproductive farm with his shrewish, hypochondriac, very difficult wife, Zeena. On the other hand, Ethan dreams of happiness in the form of Mattie who has become their servant. Zeena and Mattie are opposites of each other. Ethan is a passive, fearful man who never challenges his wife's demands. When he finally does take action, he becomes impulsive and leads to tragedy. Wharton's descriptions of a small town in New England are so well written they evoke the feel of that town so much so that they reflect the whole mood of the story and the interactions of Zeena and Ethan. This slim book really packs a punch. A must read.
