About Ethan Frome

Some quick facts: Scribner’s, NY, published Ethan Frome in 1911 Ethan Frome was written in 1910 in Paris, France The novel is set in New England in Starkfield, Massachusetts in the late nineteenth-early twentieth century Wharton had spent enough time living in New England to know something about life there, but later found that her imaginary Starkfield was very much accurate The story is based on an accident she witnessed in Lenox, MA The novel was originally a French composition that Wharton wrote while studying in Paris that was later expanded to be the length of a full novel Its rural setting sets it apart from other Wharton novels She wrote an introduction to the novel, in which Wharton says, “I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story. If you know Starkfield, Massachusetts, you know the post-office. If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade: and you must have asked who he was.”

Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton is a novel set in the town of Starkfield in New England. The story is told from the point of view of a traveler who is stuck in Starkfield for the winter. He becomes intrigued by a local named Ethan Frome, who suffered from an accident twenty years before the novel begins. The narrator asks around for more information regarding Ethan and his situation only to be caught in a storm one night and forced to stay at the Frome household. The novel then jumps back twenty years before Ethan’s accident. We find Ethan walking toward the town church at midnight. The church basement is hosting a dance. Ethan stands outside the window looking in at the dancing youths and is transfixed by one girl in particular. When the dance ends, the girl leaves, refusing the offer of a young man to take her home. Ethan stands in the shadows until the girl begins to walk home. Ethan catches up with her. Her name is Mattie Silver and she is Ethan’s wife’s cousin who lives at the Frome household and helps out at their house. Ethan is clearly excited to be in Mattie’s presence alone. The thrill is gone once they reach home where Ethan’s wife Zeena is up and waiting for their return. Zeena is a sickly, bitter woman. She is aware of the tension between Mattie and Ethan. Ethan goes to bed thinking of Mattie.

The next morning, Ethan finds that his wife intends to seek treatment for her ailments at a neighboring town. Ethan becomes excited at the prospect of spending an evening alone with Mattie. He helps his wife leave for her journey. He eagerly awaits supper with Mattie. This night confirms that the feelings they have for one another are mutual although it is never spoken or shown physically. A problem occurs when the cat breaks Zeena’s favorite pickle dish, which Ethan pieces back together and replaces it in the cabinet. They end the evening at eleven without even touching once. The next day Ethan makes plans to tell Mattie his true feelings but various interruptions, including his own inhibitions, prevent the confession. Zeena returns home and when Ethan goes to greet her she informs him her health is rapidly failing and that she will replacing Mattie with a more efficient girl. Ethan doesn’t argue. Ethan goes to the kitchen to find Mattie and finally kisses her. Zeena interrupts their moment having come down for dinner. She finds the broken pickle dish, which increases her desire to be rid of Mattie. Ethan fantasizes of running away with Mattie, but realizes that it is impossible. He is trapped.

The next day, Ethan makes another attempt at running away with Mattie by trying to collect money to finance their elopement. An encounter with a neighbor who praises his care for Zeena changes his mind about the elopement. He decides to take Mattie to the train station himself and in an effort for more time with Mattie. They stop at a snowy hill to go sledding before Mattie leaves. After the first ride down, Mattie asks for another one, this time to crash into an elm tree. After the crash, Ethan awakes dazedly to see Mattie opens her eyes and softly says his name.

The novel jumps back to present time where Ethan is apologizing to the narrator for the lack of heat in the house. Ethan introduces to frail women, one, his wife Zeena and the other, a crippled woman, Mattie Silver. The narrator leaves the Frome house the next day and returns to town where he discusses the unfortunate plight of Ethan, Mattie and Zeena.

The 1939 and 1996 editions of Ethan Frome
Bibliography of Wharton's works
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James Fenimore Cooper and Last of the Mohicans
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