Morality in Ethan Frome Essay examples - 705 Words

Morality in Ethan Frome In The Morality of Inertia, Lionel Trilling argues that Ethan Frome’s inability to make his own ethical decisions ultimately makes his ‘smash-up’ a tragic event caused by the inactivity of morality. The nonexistence of this moral inertia is the explanation, for Trilling, for the outcome of Frome; the lack of moral responsibility in any of the main characters from the beginning of their lives paralyzes their decision making process-- they simply exist and do what is their duty. Trilling’s aspect that Frome was a morally inadequate man is a valid fact affirmed by Edith Wharton’s provided background of him; the idea that he was unable to make choices and is only capable of enduring can be proven inaccurate with†¦show more content†¦Although Frome can be held responsible for his moral inactivity, he can be considered a morally inadequate man in his present state. His inadequacy, however, was not a constant in life or a sudden occurrence-- it snowballed from his youth and finally solidified through the ‘smash-up’. His earlier experiences in a university and the joy it brought him was quickly interrupted after a year by his sickly parents. The unfortunate circumstance forces Ethan Frome to move back to the depressing Starkfield he had just escaped. His parents’ illnesses bring along Zenobia, who would be another future, unseen oppression along with Starkfield. For years, Ethan lives in depressing conditions that decline as time goes on. The chance to finally leave them behind, however, comes in Mattie, Zenobia’s cousin and maid. Ethan’s inability to act on this chance of escape finally seals his fate when Mattie is paralyzed and he is critically injured. Although jinxed with unfortunate circumstances, Ethan Frome’s life could have been bettered if one small step or action was taken by him for himself with the intention to create personal joy or pleasu re. The importance of taking steps in life betterment can be seen in Ethan Frome. Although one may lack a history of â€Å"making moral decisions,† the human instinct to do so is always there (from MoralityShow MoreRelated Essay on Whartons Ethan Frome: Ethan Frome as Fairy Tale750 Words   |  3 PagesEthan Frome as Fairy Tale    Edith Whartons Ethan Frome is vividly real to its readers, its issues continually relevant to society, but through its structure and moral lessons, it is intended to be read as a fairy tale. Elizabeth Ammons discusses this fairy tale in her article Ethan Frome as a Fairy Tale, explaining that the novel is a vision of the narrators. As evidenced by the introductory chapter, the narrator truly has few clues as to the real story of Ethan Frome, and theseRead MoreEthan Frome Character Analysis770 Words   |  4 PagesThe Flaw of Frome Ethan Frome by Elizabeth Wharton is a short novel describing the life and downfall of Ethan Frome, as told by the man himself to an intrigued narrator spending the winter in Starkfield, Massachusetts. Ethan Frome, like many other protagonists, is burdened with a fatal flaw; This imperfection, his love for his wife’s caregiver and niece Mattie, leads to the loss of his wife and a tragic accident leaving him scarred and lame. We are introduced to Frome as the narrator spots him atRead MoreDesire Vs. Morality And Duty3154 Words   |  13 PagesSection I: Theme Desire vs. Morality and Duty: Throughout the novel, Ethan seems to struggle with managing his desire for Mattie and his duty as a husband. This theme is apparent throughout the entirety of the novella. It starts before the book even begins. Ethan, in the first chapter, admits to often walking Mattie, his wife’s cousin, home just to spend few minutes alone with her. However it is first mentioned in the book when Ethan is standing alone, just watching Mattie dance. He knows he hasRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Ethan Frome 1453 Words   |  6 Pageslarger part of the novel than it is. However, the setting of Starkfield in Ethan Frome is different in that the depiction of Starkfield is integral to one’s understanding of the underlying motives and feelings of the characters in the novel. The â€Å"accumulated cold of many Starkfield winters† (Wharton 5) tangibly affects the personalities and actions of Ethan, Zeena, and Mattie, mostly negatively. The character of Ethan Frome is first introduced to us via an unnamed narrator, who is an engineer temporarilyRead MoreTheme and Symbol in Ethan Frome1357 Words   |  6 PagesDivided between the two women, Ethan Frome is a highly confused man. He seeks to find some â€Å"ease and freedom† represented by Mattie, but society would not allow him to do so. Society instead compels him to accept its burden represented for him in the shape of Zeena, although it means the ruin of his life. The social pressure, whether it takes the form of conventional morality or any other forms, offers Ethan blind opposition at every turn, leashing his actions â€Å"like the jerk of a chain† (p.3). AwareRead MoreMajor Works Data Sheet2079 Words   |  9 PagesMajor Works Data Sheet Advanced Placement Literature and Composition | |Biographical Information about the Author: | |Title: Ethan Frome | | | |Edith Wharton wasRead MoreA Futile Love Between Ethan Frome, By Edith Wharton2013 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.† (Ralph Waldo Emerson). In the novel Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, it tells a story of a futile love between Ethan Frome and Mattie Silver. Ethan Frome was born on a farm in Starkfield, Massachusetts and has spent nearly the totality of his life there. He went away to college at Worchester but begrudgingly, returned after his father’s death and stayed to take care of his mother whose health was rapidlyRead MoreEssay on Edith Whartons Ethan Frome1992 Words   |  8 PagesEdith Whartons Ethan Frome Edith Wharton has succeeded in creating a place, which by its very name, is isolated and desolate - a mute melancholy landscape, which unrelentingly consumes those within, preventing them from ever escaping its grasp. Furthermore, Whartons novel delves into the human psyche, to give a glimpse of manipulation and entrapment. The prevailing mood is continually bleak and tragic, with only brief interludes of hope and romance, which are quicklyRead MoreThe American Dream, the Global Nightmare Essay1415 Words   |  6 PagesAmericans, looking for success as something he is supposed to want, rather than striving toward his individual desire. Thus, the dream now represents some superficial statistic that has nothing to do with true happiness gained by work ethic and morality, but with greed and competition. The dream, in what it represents today, is not able to withstand the impending bite of reality. Just as Gatz finds it almost impossible to be completely satisfied after meeting Daisy, society can just barely hold