In Edith Wharton's haunting novel 'Ethan Frome', the quiet town of Starkfield conceals the turbulent life of its titular character, Ethan. Struggling with a loveless marriage and societal expectations, Ethan finds a fleeting connection with his wife's cousin, Mattie Silver. Their intense yet forbidden romance breeds a desperate longing for escape, leading to a fateful decision that alters their lives forever. With themes of duty, desire, and the harshness of reality, the story masterfully encapsulates the conflict between personal happiness and moral obligation. Can love triumph in a world bound by obligation, or will it lead to irreversible tragedy?
By Edith Wharton
Published: 2015
""Life is never as simple as we would like it to be; it often forces us into choices that are as painful as they are necessary.""
Ethan Frome works his unproductive farm and struggles to maintain a bearable existence with his difficult, suspicious, and hypochondriac wife, Zeenie. But when Zeenies vivacious cousin enters their household as a hired girl, Ethan finds himself obsessed with her and with the possibilities for happiness she comes to represent.
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“"Life is never as simple as we would like it to be; it often forces us into choices that are as painful as they are necessary."”
Ethan Frome
By Edith Wharton
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer known for her incisive exploration of the lives and morals of the American upper class during the Gilded Age and early 20th century. She was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel "The Age of Innocence" (1920), which critiques the social conventions of New York's elite. Other notable works include "The House of Mirth" (1905) and "Ethan Frome" (1911), both of which showcase her acute ability to depict complex characters and their struggles within rigid societal structures. Wharton's writing is characterized by its rich descriptive detail, psychological depth, and a keen sense of irony.
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