Themes+and+Focus+Questions

The analysis of Ethan Frome begins with the question:
 * What is the Edith Wharton's purpose in writing the novel?**

Ethan Frome can be interpreted as a more modern, humanistic, and appreciable version of the Greek tragedy Hippolytus. It essentially takes the backbone of the story and replaces the chasms of mysticism with elements of our modern age to give a more coherent meaning to the classic.

Ethan Frome takes merit of its own, however, in discussing several important themes and their relationship to the human condition. Ethan himself, worn and deeply aberrated, is the concoction of these themes.

The core themes of the novel are:


 * Passion and Transgression:** Passion and transgression are responsible for most of the novel’s development. Ethan develops a passion for Mattie with no reasonable outlet that leads to his eventual transgression from the societal norm; this transgression forever scars him with shame and really marks the beginning of his new isolated lifestyle. The pain is self-inflicted and thus compounds with guilt and remorse, eventually becoming fully embodied in the wretched figure of the central character. On a general level Wharton is speaking of the conventions of moral society as a barricade to the fulfillment of desire and the effect on the individual.


 * Lost Potential:** Ethan Frome is forced to live a farmer’s life in barren Starkfield that does not cater to his expressed scientific curiosity. The plain, white, blank winter landscape surrounding him is symbolic of the despondent nature of his environment. Frome’s potential to love is also stripped of him by the conventions of society. The result is a mess of regret and a hint of isolation as Ethan reaches inward into the world he cannot have. This is representative of the effect of lost potential on the human psyche.


 * Isolation/Entrapment:** Isolation in Ethan Frome takes two forms: isolation of those in the cold, desolate town of Starkfield from the outside world and the personal isolation of Ethan from those around him due to his peculiarity. Closely linked to the theme of lost potential, isolation begs the question of what “could have been.”

Also integral to the analysis of Ethan Frome is the historical context of the novel and its creation.

The time period of Ethan Frome and its creation is the early twentieth century. The end of the frontier era in America around this time can be related to some degree to the gloomy feeling of entrapment and settling-in that Ethan feels in Starkfield. Despondence is the rule of the day in Starkfield as those trapped within realize that escape from the mundane is infeasible; this feeling correlates with the end of the adventurous frontier era. Additionally, the stoic nature of the characters of Starkfield could loosely be indicative of an allegory of the increasing international tensions in the pre-World War I era. The bleak, snowy environment may also suggest this.
 * What is the time period and how does it affect the literary style? And how is the literature characteristic of the time period?**

Finally, it is important to analyze the methods by which the author achieved her purpose in Ethan Frome.
 * What literary techniques does the author employ in achieving his or her purpose?**

Wharton makes heavy usage of imagery in Ethan Frome. Common is the description of the cold, dry, barren New England landscape with a “sky of iron” which represents the dreary atmosphere. Mattie is described in association with vivid images of summer and natural life while Zeena is described by images of coldness and deadness. Symbolism also plays a great role in Ethan Frome. The winter setting symbolizes isolation and entrapment in an unforgiving environment. Finally, the flashback technique is used to add personal emphasis to the suffering of those involved in the tragedy and also to reveal the long-term effects of the events of the story.



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