Elements In Chapter 5 Of Wharton's Ethan Frome

In Edith Wharton’s novella Ethan Frome, elements from the scene in Chapter 5 in which young Ethan and Mattie spend a romantic night alone in Ethan’s sickly wife Zeena’s absence, emphasizes the theme of personal desires versus being moral and doing what’s expected. Certain aspects, such as the time and place where the two secret lovers face the conflict of whether they should face the reality of their circumstances and if Ethan will achieve his goal of getting to be with Mattie all comes to a tense tipping point.