Nancy J. Dutton, the author of the critical essay I studied, believes Ethan Frome analyzes the division between the poor and wealthy classes of small New England towns. I agree with the author's statement. The usage of societal mannerisms, familial obligations, the restrictions of poverty, and how the natural environment affects individuals' behavior is a necessary way of expressing Edith Wharton's own desperation within her own oppressive marriage.
In general, old New England towns are considered to be very quaint forms of civilization, filled with individuals who wish the best for the whole of their community. This is evident in the scene from the novella where Ethan Frome purchases glue from one of the general stores, and the woman running the store makes a good-natured comment of concern regarding his wife, Zenobia. If the community did not place so much emphasis on being courteous of other civilians' ongoing events, perhaps Ethan would not have felt so obligated to be aware of his self-restraint. I feel that part of Ethan's tragic flaw was the emphasis he placed on putting others before himself. He was stressed by the responsibility he had for both the well-being of Zeena and Mattie, and I believe that whenever his thoughts strayed to be in his favor rather than for the favor of others' benefit, Ethan felt weighed down by a heavy conscience. From previous literature, I believe that New England towns put an emphasis on religious values, so although religious institutions were never really mentioned in the novella, I believe there was still an underlying driving force of religion guiding Ethan Frome, which is why he was so hesitant when thoughts of temptation and passion entered his mind. In essence, I feel that Ethan Frome knew he had obligations to the two women because they were both family, as well as because of his marital connection (Zeena) and affectionate feelings (Mattie.)
A large part of New England culture centered around the architecture of the house. In the novella, Wharton wrote about the importance of the "L," and how it was considered the center of the New England farm due to the way the adjunct connected the main house to the wood-shed and cow-barn through the means of storerooms and a tool-house. Within the critical essay, the author noted that as New England farms prospered, the families added a larger front house at right angles to it and outbuildings connecting it to the barn. Rural inhabitants place a high value on the landscape surrounding their home and the centrality of the "L" to comfort in family life. Wharton as a whole believed that architecture greatly impacted family life, and felt that the setting of the house can either make or break an individual's happiness and personal success. Through reading Ethan Frome, it is easy to determine that due to the barren surroundings, Ethan Frome felt trapped and unhappy with his life. If he had taken the opportunity to leave Starkfield, perhaps he might have prospered and achieved his full potential. However, his lack of monetary means left him to not only be tied to his family farm, but to also be unable to have the critical "L" addition to his farm. In this way, he felt very oppressed and began to wither as an individual. It is also important to note the effect that the winter weather had on the town of Starkfield. The author of this essay noted that Seasonal Affective Disorder was most likely one of the most difficult stresses Ethan Frome had to deal with. The winter heavily impacted the decisions Ethan made; whether it was the spontaneous marriage to Zeena because he did not want to be alone in the winter, the passion he had for the refreshing youth of Mattie, or the attempted suicide. Maybe after examining all of the issues presented within the novella, winter ends up being the villainous force that led to the deterioration and ultimate unhappiness of Ethan Frome.
In my opinion, the author presented her argument extremely well. She connected both real life examples and quotations from the original novella to back up her analysis of the novella Ethan Frome. By putting emphasis on the division between the poor and wealthy classes of small New England towns, Wharton essentially wrote about how oppression based on one's own actions or uncontrollable elements leads to the success or failure of individuals.
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