Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

Ethan Frome was an interesting book to read. It starts with detailed, engaging description and introductory development of setting and characters. Throughout the middle pages, the progression of plot to its eventual climax is a compelling story to follow. The resolution of the story possesses traits of tragedy and was rather surprising and cruel, but works to place a proverbial cherry upon the story. This ending clearly defines the message delivered by the story as a whole and is thus a powerful conclusion to an absorbing, fictional narration of a few days in Starkfield. To alter such an ending is to fundamentally change the meaning of the story. Consequently, if the controversial completion of the novel conveys Wharton’s intended theme, which one would assume it does, it serves to augment and enhance the story. The reviewer’s opinion that the “exaggerated terror” of Wharton’s ending ruins the entire novel seems completely incorrect. Several passages throughout the story serve to foreshadow such an ending, and the “great tragedy,” which the reviewer expected, would detract from the power of the book by lumping it with numerous other works of similar plot. Overall, Ethan Frome’s close makes sense within the context of the story, assists the transfer of the theme to the reader, and sets the novel apart from others.

While reading the novel for the first time, the ending comes as a shock to the reader. However, there exists several passages interspersed throughout the pages that serve to foreshadow the unfortunate ending. One such scenario appears when Ethan encounters his wife at the door and Zeena’s appearance is described (page 34), and later, Mattie, not Zeena, stands at the same door, holding the same lamp, ...

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...ginal, and more aggressively tragic finish to her novel, which differentiates it from many others preceding it.

The conclusion of Ethan Frome may seem unnecessarily sad to some, and these people may consequently not enjoy it and would prefer something different. Wharton’s decision to write the conclusion as she did, however, in no way “mars” her work to me, nor do I think it should to anyone. Contextual clues within the story hint at such an ending, so it makes sense to the story, the intended meaning of the story is achieved via the resolution, and the novel is far more unique than other love stories because of its conclusion. It not only belongs in this novel, but it enhances the story. The reviewer was correct in saying “We do not cover the eyes at the spectacle of a really great tragedy,” and at Ethan Frome, we keep the eyes open and unobstructed.