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TRANSCRIPT
Ethan Frome
By: Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton
Edith WhartonBorn on January 24, 1862 to a wealthy NY familyAs a child and adolescent, Edith was educated at home by governesses She enjoyed literature and had always been interested in writing Her family tried to discourage her interest in literatureLed a luxurious life, entering society at the age of seventeen
Edith Wharton
Her role as a daughter of society was to learn the mannerisms and rituals expected of well bred young women in those days Edith married Teddy Wharton (a Boston banker)They lived a luxurious life with homes in NY, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts Edith's marriage was not a fulfilled one
Edith Wharton
She discovered Teddy had taken money from her to set up a mistress in Boston Her marriage began to disintegrateEdith had met and fallen in love with Morton Fullerton All of these circumstances led to her interest in the thoughts behind the actions of her characters
Edith WhartonShe created numerous charactersWrote numerous novels between 1900-37Wharton is today recognized as a major writer of the first two decades of the 20th C.In 1921 Wharton became the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Yale She died of a heart attack on August 11, 1937, in France.
Edith Wharton
Themes found in most of her literatureThe corrupting power of wealth Social pressure among the poor The essential rightness of moral action Negative portrayals of men Complex psychology of her characters
Ethan Frome
Most often read of Wharton's novels Published in 1911
IntroductionEthan Frome is the story of a man who, following the death of his father, gives up his education and other opportunities to return to the family farm in Starkfield, Massachusetts, to support his ailing mother
Characters
NarratorThe entire story is told from the point of view of an unnamed narratorThe narrator has come to Starkfield (setting) on business and must remain there all winter Bit by bit he gets the story of Ethan’s life from people in town
Characters
Ethan Frome28 yrs. oldWanted to become an engineerMarried his mother’s nurseWorks in agriculture (lumber)
Characters
Zenobia (Zeena) FromeEthan’s wife35 yrs. oldHypochondriacSickly “Already an old woman”Zeena met Ethan when she came to take care of his sick mother
Characters
Mattie SilverBeautiful young relative of ZeenaCome’s to the Frome farm after her father diesHelps around the house because Zeena is illWhen the story opens Mattie has been living with the Frome’s for one year
Characters
Dennis EadySon of Michael Eady, the town grocer
Harmon GowKnows the history of everyone in Starkfield
Andrew Hale A builder, friend of Ethan
Ruth VarnumMiddle aged widow
Jotham Powell Works for the Frome’s
Prologue
Introduction to the novelGives background informationBegins in the future
Prologue
Introduced to the narratorCome to Starkfield on businessWill remain throughout the winterMeets Ethan at the post officeInitial impression – he is a silent unapproachable manFrom is crippled and disfigured because of the “smash up”
Prologue
The narrator becomes interested in EthanAsks the towns people for information on himWhen the narrator becomes stranded Ethan takes over as his driver to and from the train station each dayAt first they drive in silenceOne day the narrator leaves a chemistry book in the carriageEthan and the narrator realize they have the same interest
PrologueThis leads the narrator to have a conversation with Ethan, but it goes no whereA few days later there is a huge snowstormThe narrator’s train is delayed so Ethan decides to drive him to his jobEthan talks a little about his lifeOn the way home the storm gets worse so Ethan brings the narrator back to his home
Prologue
Frome invites him to stay until the storm passes and he agrees
“It was that night that I found the clue to Ethan Frome, and began to put together this vision of his story…”
Analysis
Wharton uses foreshadowingImagery (Starkfield)Relationship between the landscape and the characters
Chapter 1
Starkfield is under 2 feet of snowEthan went to the church to meet MattieShe is there at a danceHe watches her through the window
She is dancing with Denis EadyThis makes him a little jealous
Chapter 1Since she arrived at their home Ethan has become attached to her
They have things in commonShe is young and livelySweet and innocent
While he is waiting for Mattie he thinks about a conversation he had with Zeena and she said Mattie will probably marry Denis
This upsets him
Analysis – Chapter 1
The chapter opens with strong sensory images
The village lay under 2 feet of snowThe Dipper hung like iciclesThe moon was transparentExcited dancers whirling
Analysis – Chapter 1
The image of Ethan outside the church gives the impression that:
He sets himself apart from societyMarried too earlyFeels despair and excludedEnjoys watching Mattie
Chapter 2
The dance ends and Ethan watches Mattie, but he hides from her viewBefore he gets a chance to show himself, Denis approaches Mattie and wants to take her home (she declines)Once Denis is gone Ethan reveals himselfThey walk home together, arm in arm
They talk about going sledding
Chapter 2
During the walk homeEthan wonders about Matties feelings towards Denis and himselfHe tries to question her about Denis in a playful wayThis questioning leads Mattie to believe that Zeenawants her to leave
She knows Zeena is not very fond of her
Chapter 2
They arrive homeEthan looks for the key under the mat, but its not thereZeena comes to the door and opens it
A sickly complaining womanCouldn’t sleep
“I just felt so mean I couldn’t sleep
Analysis – Chapter 2
Ethan finds in Mattie a friend, something that has been lacking in his lifeEthan is happy and energized during their walks home
He feels a strong connection with Mattie
Zeena can sense this connection She remarks Ethan has been shaving everyday since she arrivedThe incident with the key
Chapter 3Ethan lays awake all night He goes to work early and thinks about Mattie
He regrets not kissing herHe then thinks about Mattie and Zeena’srelationship
He fears that Zeena will send her awayThere was tension between them all the night beforeHe goes home during the day to check on them
Chapter 3When he gets home he finds Zeena dressed with a piece of luggage She’s decided to go see a new doctorEthan agrees she should go and gets Jothamto drive her to the station instead of himself
He tells her he is going to collect money from Andrew Hale (which is a lie)He regrets telling her
Chapter 4
Zeena and Jotham leave for BettsbridgeEthan leaves to go see AndrewAll he can think about is his night alone with MattieNext he thinks about the events leading up to his marriage to Zeena
Zeena’s arrival to take care of his mother made him feel less lonelyFearing loneliness after his mothers death led him to marry Zeena
Chapter 4
Their original plans were to sell the farmhouse and move to a bigger town
Zeena got sick and they weren’t able to leave
Chapter 4
Since he told Zeena he was getting money from Andrew, he decides to go an ask him for an advance
Hale refusesOn his way home he passes Denis’ sleigh and feels jealousHe also sees Ruth and Ned together
This makes him think of Mattie, because they were in the same spot he and Mattie were the night before
Chapter 4
When he arrives home he sees Mattie’s light on and imagines her getting ready for dinnerAlong the walk to his house he passes the family gravestones When he finally gets to the door Mattie opens it and she is wearing a red ribbon in her hairShe has the table set for dinner with festive dishes
Chapter 4
During dinner the cat knocks over Zeena’spickle dishMattie becomes very upset because this was Zeena’s favorite wedding present and she has forbidden Mattie to use itEthan tries to comfort her and tells her he will take care of it
Chapter 4 - Analysis
What do the gravestones symbolize?
What does the pickle dish symbolize?
What does the red scarf symbolize?
What does the cat symbolize?
Chapter 5
After dinner Mattie and Ethan sit by the fire, Mattie sits in the rocking chair which gives Ethan the image of Zeena,
Mattie senses this and returns to the kitchenAt first there is silence between the two of them, then they start talking about:
Everyday thingsSleddingEthan talks about Ruth and Ned
Chapter 5
They are avoiding the subject of their relationship
Ethan talks about Mattie getting marriedMattie talks about Zeena
Ethan touches the cloth Mattie is working onAgain they are quiet, except for the noise from the cat who jumped off Zeena’s rocking chairEthan picks up Mattie’s cloth and kisses it
Chapter 5
At 11pm, they clear up the kitchen and go to bedEthan realizes that their evening is over and nothing happened
Chapter 6
The next morning Jotham has breakfast with Mattie and EthanEthan wants to tell Mattie “We shall never be alone like this again,” but he doesn’t have the nerveAfter unloading his lumber, he goes to the store to buy glue to fix the dish
Chapter 6
Ethan returns home with the glue and finds out Zeena is already homeAs soon as she returned she went straight to her room without a wordEthan invites Jotham to dinner, but he declines
This causes Ethan to feel anxious because he now has to have dinner with Zeena and Mattie
Chapter 7
Ethan goes upstairs to see ZeenaShe is sitting staring out the window
Ethan tells her dinner is readyShe tells Ethan she is sicker then he thinks
She has hired a girl to come and take care of herEthan becomes angry
There’s not enough moneyZeena tells Ethan, Mattie is leaving
Chapter 7
Ethan tries to defend Mattie, but Zeena has already made up her mindMattie calls them down to dinner
He tells Mattie everything is fine and eatsZeena finally comes down and eats
She then goes to look for medicineShe finds the broken pickle dishShe accuses Mattie of breaking it
Chapter 7 - Analysis
Ethan realizes Zeena is a hypochondriacShe is exaggerating her illnessThis gives her the upper hand in the marriage
Ethan is nervous around herShe catches him in the lie about the money
The broken dish symbolizes the breaking of the marriage
Mattie broke the dishMattie is coming between Zeena and Ethan
Chapter 8
After her outburst, Zeena goes back to bedMattie cleans up the kitchen, obviously upsetEthan does his nightly choresWhen he comes back to the house he finds his pipe and a note from Mattie on the tableHe sleeps in the spare room that night and thinks about his situation
Chapter 8
Ethan decides to run away with MattieThen realizes he doesn’t have enough money
The next morning Ethan wakes up to find breakfastHe is still unsure of what Zeena is going to do about Mattie He leaves for work and decides he will ask Andrew for the money so he can leave with Mattie
Chapter 8
He finds out Andrew is home sickNow he is realizing that Mattie will really be leaving
Chapter 8 - Analysis
Ethan is very indecisive in this chapterHe wants to abandon ZeenaHe wants to run away with MattieHe wants to ask Andrew for the money
Chapter 8 - AnalysisDescribe the landscape
There is sunlight “A pale haze of spring”The wintry fields hold a promise of renewal and birthThe fields lay like a silver shield under the sunEvery yard of road was alive with Mattie’s presence
Chapter 9
A sleigh is waiting to take Mattie’s trunkWhen Ethan enters the house, Mattie is upstairs packingHe goes to see herShe tells him how afraid she is of never seeing him againEthan carries the trunk down and decides to drive Mattie himself to the station
Chapter 9
Ethan prepares the horse for the tripThey start out and Ethan decides to take the long way around Shadow Pond
Ethan remembers the church picnicHe asks Mattie her plans for the futureMattie confesses her love for him
Chapter 9
Ethan asks her if she wants to go sledding before he drops her at the stationTheir first coast down is smoothAs the reality of the situation gets harder for them, Mattie suggests they commit suicideHe agrees to steer the sled into the elm treeThey hit the elmAfter the impact, Mattie and Ethan are still alive
Chapter 9 - Analysis
The theme of this chapter is despair and desperationMattie finally takes initiative
Themes
FrustrationResponsibilityLoneliness
Themes
FrustrationCentral themeComes from the environment
The constant dreary snowy conditions
Characters personalitiesSome do not get along
Themes
Why is Ethan frustrated:His plans to become an engineer are endedHis marriage to ZeenaHe has no moneyHis desire to be with MattieHis indecision in his future
ThemesWhy is Zeena frustrated
She never liked StarkfieldShe became sickly at a young ageHer marriage to Ethan is not idealMattie is young and vibrant (everything Zeena is not)Ethan has an interest in Mattie
ThemesWhy is Mattie frustrated:
She was left with nothing after her father diedShe has no skills Zeena is critical of everything Mattie doesShe has feelings for EthanShe has no where to go if Zeena sends her away
Themes
ResponsibilityEthan’s responsibilities:
To take care of his motherThe farmHis wifeMattie
Themes
Zeena’s responsibilities:To take care of Ethan’s motherTo be a wife
Mattie’s responsibilities:To take care of the houseTo take care of Zeena
Themes
Loneliness"I simply felt that he lived in a depth of moral isolation too remote for casual access, and I had the sense that his loneliness was not merely the result of his personal plight, tragic as I guessed that to be, but had in it, as Harmon Gow had hinted, the profound accumulated cold of many Starkfield winters." Ethan's home is "one of those lonely New England farm-houses that make the landscape lonelier."
Themes
LonelinessWhen Mattie first comes to stay with the Fromes, Zeena encourages her to find diversion because "it was thought best... not to let her feel too sharp a contrast between the life she had left and the isolation of a Starkfield farm."
Themes
Ethan is lonelyIn a loveless marriageZeena is sickly, unpleasant
Zeena is lonelyIn a loveless marriageEthan does not understand her
Mattie is lonelyNo family besides ZeenaHas feelings for Ethan
Style
Point of ViewThe story relates events that happened 24 years previously in a narrative frame of the presentA story within a story
The narrators storyEthan Frome’s story
The story is the narrators vision of events
Style
ImageryThe setting relates to the characters
The landscape is cold – Ethan is cold, isolated and unapproachable“The town lay under two feet of snow”
References to darknessWhen Ethan goes to pick up Mattie at the church dance he hides in the shadowsSpends a night is his dark cold studyZeena always wears dark colored clothing (browns, grays, blacks)
Style
ImageryLight (bright colored) imagery
Images of light and warmth are associated with Mattie – icicles, red scarf, yellow sunHer name “Silver” means something bright
Setting
StarkfieldFictional town in MassachusettsEarly 1900’sThe Frome’s farm
Irony
What you expect to happen and what actually happens
The one meal Ethan is able to share with Mattie ends in distress
Pickle dish breaks
The fun in sledding ends in sufferingBeautiful Mattie becomes ugly Zeena takes Mattie’s place