summery of ethan frome
Ethan Frome is a novel by Edith Wharton that tells the tragic story of the titular character, Ethan Frome. Set in the fictional New England town of Starkfield, the story follows Ethan's life as he navigates a loveless marriage, social isolation, and the cruel reality of his circumstances.
Ethan is married to Zeena, a sickly woman who is constantly complaining and has become bitter over the years. Together, they live on Ethan's isolated farm and barely make ends meet. Ethan's life takes a turn when Zeena's cousin, Mattie, comes to live with them as a domestic helper. Ethan becomes infatuated with Mattie, and the two develop a close relationship over time.
As their emotional connection grows, Ethan and Mattie begin to fantasize about escaping their miserable lives and running away together. However, their dreams are shattered when Zeena announces her plans to send Mattie away due to her own failing health and financial troubles.
Desperate to keep Mattie by his side, Ethan contemplates a tragic solution: taking their own lives by sledding into a tree in a dramatic accident. The plan is foiled when they fail to gather the courage to carry it out. Instead, they end up severely injured and permanently disabled.
The novel ends with Ethan, now a broken and lonely man, recounting his story to an unnamed narrator years later. He is left disabled and trapped in Starkfield, forever haunted by the events of that fateful night.
Overall, Ethan Frome portrays the hardships and limitations of life in a small, rural community, exploring themes of loneliness, desire, duty, and the consequences of one's actions. It is a tragic tale that underscores the cruel realities of life and the absence of hope in the face of crushing circumstances.