Ethan Frome

Literary Devices: Dialect: “That’s my gate down yonder.” (p. 21) "He wants I should have a hired girl. He says I oughtn't to have to do a single thing around the house." -Zeena (p. 97) Analogy: “Sickness and trouble: that’s what Ethan’s had his plate full up with, ever since the very first helping.” (p. 12) Flashback: “Mattie Silver had lived under his roof for a year, and from early morning till they met at supper he had frequent chances of seeing her; but no moments in her company were comparable to those when, her arm in his, and her light step flying to keep time with his long stride, they walked back through the night to the farm…” (p.29) Suspense: "Frome stamped on the work oil-cloth to shake the snow from his boots, and set down his lantern on a kitchen chair which was the only piece of furniture in the hall. Then he opened the door. 'Come in,' he said; and as he spoke the droning voice grew still... It was that night that I found the clue to Ethan Frome, and began to put together this vision of his story..." (p. 22) Polysydndeton: "His hard day's work in the keen air made him feel at once lazy and light of mood, and he had a confused sense of being in another world, where all was warmth and harmony and time could bring no change." (p. 77) "He felt cold and stiff and hungry, and ashamed of being hungry." (p. 117) Tricolon: "Denis's commercial instinct compelled him to aver on oath that what Eady's store could not produce would never be found at the widow Homan's; but Ethan, heedless of this boast, had already climbed to the sledge and was driving on to the rival establishment." (p. 90) Figurative Language: Simile: “Come along! Get in quick! It’s as slippery as thunder on this turn!” –Denis Eady (pp. 38-39) “But now he felt as heavy and loutish as in his student days, when he had tried to ‘jolly’ the Worchester girls at a picnic.” (p.37) “In another moment she would step forth into the night, and his eyes, accustomed to the obscurity, would discern her as clearly as though she stood in daylight.” (p. 37) "...And gathering up the bits of broken glass she went out of the room as if she carried a dead body..." (p. 111) "The inexorable facts closed in on him like prison-warders handcuffing a convict." (p. 117) "You were as pretty as a picture in that pink hat." -Ethan Frome to Mattie (p. 134) Metaphor: “The night was perfectly still, and the air so dry and pure that it gave little sensation of cold.” (p. 24) "Ethan was ashamed of the storm of jealousy in his chest." (p. 68) "It was a shy secret spot, full of the same dumb melancholy that Ethan felt in his heart." (p. 133) Imagery: "About a mile farther, on a road I had never travelled, we came to an orchard of starved apple-trees writing over a hillside among outcroppings of slate that nuzzled up through the snow like animals pushing out their noses to breathe." (p. 17) Edith Wharton uses figurative language and literary devices in Ethan Frome to depict the struggle of Frome. Torn between right and wrong: his marriage with his wife, Zeena, and his emotional affair with her cousin, Mattie. Wharton uses an awful lot of similes and metaphors throughout the novel. There was very rarely a page that didn't have one or the other. In doing so, she expressed the deep feelings that Frome felt for Mattie, and although it went against his relationship with Zeena, allowing for the reader to understand where his head was at, you almost didn't judge him for it.		Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton PLOT PERSPECTIVE: The story is expressed through the eyes of the unattested narrator in the unfamiliar Starkfield, Massachusetts. The narrator begins the novel in 1st person. Later on and throughout the novel, the story is told in 3rd person. It is suggested to be limited due to the fact that you cannot see into the complex minds of Zeena and Mattie; just Ethan’s. The novel is wrapped up by once again being expressed in the 1st person perspective that was previously uttered in the beginning of the story. CHARACTER DECONSTRUCTION: Ethan Frome is not only the main character of this novel but also the protagonist. He is not a dynamic character in the novel. The reoccurrence of his pride and selfish ways like the time he wouldn’t let is pride go in order to receive money from the Hale family indicates that he is a stagnant character. Yes, his love for Mattie blossoms throughout the novel but he is all too consistent in his selfish thinking. All he wants and cares about is how ‘he’ can be with Mattie. This in turn leads to their selfish act of attempted suicide. The irony of the attempted elm tree collision is that they not only survive the attempted suicide, but they are now able to be together; regrettably crippled and under the care of loathed Zeena Pierce (Frome). This behavior reveals that Ethan did not grow internally as a character throughout this novel. THEME The major theme of the novel was morality vs. desire. Ethan Frome's become morally concerned about the things that he is trying to pursue.Much like his desire for a woman that is not his wife. The author however makes these desires seem inevitable or understandable, because it seems as though Ethan's desires are placed in his by society. Because he always has very strong feelings for his wife but is exposed to the curiosity of cheating because of the major constraints that society imposes on his desires. TONE Throughout the novel the speaker creates a very tragic attitude. The depressing state of mind that Ethan Frome is in is vividly shown within the text that the author provides. And the speaker's attitude seems selfish, self destructive, and unproductive. Ultimately sounding a bit tragaic as well. Wharton exposed Ethan's deep feelings which were devasting because of him wanting to betray his wife , along with him finally attempting to give up on life is a very ultimate tragic ending. MOOD The novel definately creates a depressing effect on the reading. Although the actions and events may seem sad and a bit unfortuante, it is hard to relate and understand with Ethan's major battles. Therefore, creating a depressing feel. Ethan's actions end up truly resulting in a very selfish and downhill behavior that he brings upon himself. So it makes the reader feel depressed, much like Ethan already is. His unstable state of mind and constant battle with moral battles becomes unfortunate without a sense of hope for his struggle. Without any hope it is inevitable to feel depressed.