Ethan Frome

Edith Wharton’s short novel ETHAN FROME is a tale of frustration. Ethan has been married to his late mother’s nurse for convenience - because it was winter and she was lonely. The wife turns out to be a hypochondriac. His wife’s trips to the doctor threaten Ethan’s meager resources. Then wife’s cousin comes to their life. It is said that the cousin shines a light of life into Ethan’s meager and snowy existence. A quiet passion grows between Ethan and the cousin. Trapped by social limits and obligations to his wife, Ethan plans an escape which will have tragic consequences. That’s Ethan Frome’s story, written in simple prose that, ironically, is enjoyable to read despite the theme of the novel being a tragedy.

{August 8, 2009}