Theme Of Isolation In Ethan Frome

In the novel Ethan Frome whom is written by Edith Wharton, isolation plays a big role in why and what the character’s do in the novel. Zeena is the character that is isolated in the novel. Through out Zeena’s life during the novel, she goes through two major changes. She experiences herself stuck with in isolation and does not know who to get her back. She is not the only person who realizes that she is not the same. Many people, including her own husband Ethan notices it. But Zeena is a person who has to feel that she is helping someone in order for her to be the real Zeena. Zeena feels like herself, happy and just like normal while taking care of Ethan’s mother, but once his mother passes, she goes into isolation. She does not even realize
By her only going to the supper table and sometimes in the living room. Most of the time, Zeena is in the bed. She is so isolated that she stays in the bed and only comes down to eat supper. She does not go to the farm or to go to town with Ethan and Mattie. Zeena does not clean up the house, nor does she cook. Zeena says “The doctor don’t want I should be left without anybody to do for me.” (Wharton, 20) That is why Mattie lives with them. Zeena is not able to do the duty’s that have to be done around the house that most women do. Isolation has taking over so much of Zeena’s life that she does nothing. Simply because she is not doing what she feels she
For Zeena, she knew she had gotten sick and that something was wrong with her. But she had no idea what caused it. Sadly, her being sick left others around town feeling like they could talk about her. Many people around the town Starkfield, would talk about her all the time being sick and that she was always sick. She had not always been sick, she was in good health and fine while caring for Ethan’s mother. Also, she was once again fine when Ethan and Mattie got into their wreck and had to be cared for. Before Zeena found herself caring for Ethan and Mattie, she was isolated. She was isolated within herself because she knew that she was not happy. And that lead her to be so sick all the time because she did not know what to do about it. Thankfully, Zeena finally found herself once again. She cared for Ethan and Mattie. Even though, she had many thoughts about it. She still cared for them and did her best for them. Also while doing that, she found herself back to doing what she loved and not being sick all the time. Sometimes in life, no one can tell you what to do or how you should feel because your mind and body will eventually find its own way back to