Obligations In Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome
In the book Ethan Frome written by Edith Wharton, the main character Ethan is faced with many difficulties where he must choose between his desires or between his obligations. Ethan’s obligations rise above his desires and he is often left to settle for less. As a result of his settling he not only punishes himself but everyone around him as well.
Ethan’s life in a rural environment, suppressed the opportunity for him to become someone. (quote about Ethan not going to college). Ethan stays in Starkfield to aid his ill parents alongside his distant cousin Zenobia, “she’s always been the greatest hand at doctoring in the country” (Wharton 13). As a result of the crippling winter Ethan asks Zeena to stay with him after his mother’s passing and “in turn could do no less than marry her” (63). This was Ethan’s first mistake. Ethan had the chance handed to him to go and put himself through college and sell the farm; sadly Ethan’s sense of obligations prevailed. (Quote …show more content…
Zeena loves attention, without it she would “suffer a complete identity loss” (42). Zeena’s need for people to be “suffieciently aware of her” which causes Ethan to suffer (42). Ethan wouldn’t be suffering if he contained his “dread of being left alone” (41).
During their first year of marriage Zeena becomes ill and unable to take care of things around the house. Her cousin Mattie is in need of somewhere to stay and Zeena is in need of help
around the house so she takes Mattie in. Ethan begins to develop an attraction to Mattie that he didn’t have with Zeena. Zeena begins to have “complications” that deteriorate the little bit of health that she still had (61). Ethan is responsible for Zeena’s complications becoming worse because of the lack of love and affection he gives to her; as a result of his neglect Zeena thinks herself worse. Ethan’s desires for Mattie triumph against his obligations to his
Ethan’s life in a rural environment, suppressed the opportunity for him to become someone. (quote about Ethan not going to college). Ethan stays in Starkfield to aid his ill parents alongside his distant cousin Zenobia, “she’s always been the greatest hand at doctoring in the country” (Wharton 13). As a result of the crippling winter Ethan asks Zeena to stay with him after his mother’s passing and “in turn could do no less than marry her” (63). This was Ethan’s first mistake. Ethan had the chance handed to him to go and put himself through college and sell the farm; sadly Ethan’s sense of obligations prevailed. (Quote …show more content…
Zeena loves attention, without it she would “suffer a complete identity loss” (42). Zeena’s need for people to be “suffieciently aware of her” which causes Ethan to suffer (42). Ethan wouldn’t be suffering if he contained his “dread of being left alone” (41).
During their first year of marriage Zeena becomes ill and unable to take care of things around the house. Her cousin Mattie is in need of somewhere to stay and Zeena is in need of help
around the house so she takes Mattie in. Ethan begins to develop an attraction to Mattie that he didn’t have with Zeena. Zeena begins to have “complications” that deteriorate the little bit of health that she still had (61). Ethan is responsible for Zeena’s complications becoming worse because of the lack of love and affection he gives to her; as a result of his neglect Zeena thinks herself worse. Ethan’s desires for Mattie triumph against his obligations to his