Ethan Frome Themes

---. The House of Mirth. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905. Print.

This nineteenth century classical novel surrounds the life of a beautiful lady name Lily Bart. Lily has important social and family ties. Her two main goals were: marriage and wealth. Since the death of her mother, she began to live with her aunt, Mrs. Peniston. Lily spends most of her time staying at the Bellomont with Judy Trenor, who regularly throws extravagant parties. The main theme of The House of Mirth is the economic position of women in upper class U.S. society at the beginning of the century (Bestnotes). This novel was showing "the most rapid sale of any book ever published by Scribner” (Wikipedia).The commercial and critical success of The House of Mirth solidified

It depicts the idea of the inability to escape an incompatible relationship due to certain weaknesses and how an individual will be viewed by society. The story surrounds the dismal life of Ethan’s life before and after the smash up. It begins in Starkfield where Ethan had lived years with his wife Zeena. He had aspirations for a better life and to move beyond the boundaries of the small town which he resides, but he was trapped. His life was dull until Mattie arrives. She became his only happiness and shared a similar desire. The affair became futile after their attempt of escaping. The work focuses on the theme of fate and the obstacles caused by duty to family and the rules of society. This is one of Edith Wharton’s highly known and recommended novels. It was a

“It tells the story of Undine Spragg, a Midwestern girl who attempts to ascend in New York City Society” (Wikipedia). Wharton satirically explores the idea that divorce is a distinctive “American custom” during the twentieth century. By the end of the novel, Linda Wagner- Martin states that “matrons of [the] French society look in horror as a parade of wealthy American women, twice- or thrice- married, attempt to infiltrate aristocratic society.” The novel deals with present issues such as striving for wealth (Johnson, The Custom of The Country). This was well received and is currently one of Wharton’s most popular