Passion and responsibility in Edith Warton’s “Ethan Frome” Essay

Set in 1881 Starkfield, Massach habituatetts, Edith Wartons _Ethan Frome_ reveals a recurring theme found in literature the classic war betwixt a fury and responsibility. In the novel, published in 1911, protagonist Ethan Frome confronts his two private passions, his need to become an channelise that conflicts with his moral responsibility to his family and his passion for Mattie Silver that conflicts with his obligations to his peaked(p) wife, Zenobia Frome. Ethan, being a man of responsibility, places the needs and wants of his family, before his own, which causes him to experience simply sickness and trouble and thats what hes had his place full up with, ever since the in truth first helping (12). The reader sympathizes with Ethans struggles as he abandons his studies at Worcester, considers running apart with Mattie, and even attempts felo-de-se with Mattie.When Ethan is confronted with family obligations, his craving to become an engineer ceases and, as a result, he leaves Worcester. Later in his, livelihood he starts to realize that leaving Worcester also meant that he would forget about only of the things he learned. Because Ethan was unable to finish his education as Worcester, he looks at the book that the speaker left him and knows that would be things in that book that he didnt know the first word about (14). Though Ethan had to leave Worcester prematurely, he thinks fondly of his university days and longs to recreate them. Ethans bestparlour (112) that he uses as a sanctuary is modeled after a professor he had at Worcester. His professor, a minister, fed Ethans curiosity by lending him books. However, Ethans sense of responsibility made him give up the knowledge he loved and even years later he clings onto the spark of knowledge that he gained from university.Ethans longing to run away with Mattie is obliterated by his overpowering responsibility to his wife. Wharton poses a striking line of merchandise mingled with the two women, using light and frenzy to represent Mattie and pertinacious and froreness for Zeena. Mattie brings out a part of Ethan that he had lost when he left Worcester. Ethan embraces this newly found self with the desire to talk to her and non be the shy man he was in his Worchester days. To Ethan whole his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver (35), and because of her he has found a new happiness. However, this newfound happiness can be eradicated by a mere mention of his wifes name. Zeenas name threw a chill between (73) Ethan and Mattie. Zeenas character juxtaposes the character of Mattie all the warmth that Mattie brings into the Frome home turns wintry when Zeena is present. Ethans responsibility to Zeena causes him to stay in the cold town of Starkfield.Even the townspeople believe that Ethan has been in Starkfield too many a(prenominal) winters (7). When Ethan is around Mattie he is filled with a warm sense of sequel and stability (45). Yet Zeena stands in th e way of Ethan being with Mattie like he so frequently imagines. This causes Ethans heart to be jerking to and fro between two extremities of feeling (95), his responsibilities lie with Zeena still Mattie inflames his passions. Red is the archetypal saturation for passion and it reflects Ethan and Matties inability to act on their mutual desire for one another. When Mattie first arrives in Starkfield she wears a cherry-coloured scarf(27) and later a streak of crimson ribbon (71) through her hair that catches Ethans attention. Ethan had taken to the girl from the first day(*******) and his passion for her never left him.Ethan and Matties malcontent attempt at suicide is inhibited by his thoughts of Zeena. Ethan learns that Zeena wishes to blame Mattie away and replace her with a hired girl. He knows that he should treasure his wifes decision but feels that his heart was jerking to and fro between two extremities offeeling (95). Ethan chooses this path with Mattie because it is h er last hope, without living in Starkfield and miserable with no job experience she only has one thing to offer. Ethan knows this, but also tries to ignore it thinking that she might get a offend life, he tries to help but he cant kidnap a hand for (138) Mattie. He has tried every possibility, so unitedly Ethan and Mattie finally go coasting. With Starkfield alight below they looked ahead with rigid faces (138). Everything passes by in a blur, all that matters is that Ethan and Mattie are together and they are in their own world. Mattie suggests going down again but this time they go forth never come up anymore (143).Ethans final ask is for Mattie to sit behind and to feel Mattie holding him (146). It is Ethans own coming upon of emotions that cause him to agree with Matties suggestion that the two of them should commit suicide by coasting into the elm tree at the bottom of the hill. Everything goes to plan until his wifes facethrust itself between him and his goal (147), ca using him to swerve, but he soon rights it. Instead of hitting the tree head on, the two hit it on the right side. The smash-up (4) is not enough to refine them but it does leave the pair seriously injured. When he hears Matties twittering sounds of pain, Ethan realizes his failed rebellious action and his sense of responsibility returns. Ethan hears his horse begins to whinny and thinks to himself that he ought to be acquire the horse his feed (149). Fromes injuries remain as a constant proctor of his inability to outflow his responsibilities.In _Ethan Frome_ the progonist Ethan Frome cannot escape his responsibilities in his life, whether it be his parents or his wife. Now he also has a new weight to carry, on with the responsibility, it is that Matties condition is his fault. Ethan learned that responsibility trumps passion in all forms, he tried to follow his passions but he could not escape reality. That reality is a life with Zeena taking care of Mattie, and Ethan living his straining life with seeing everyday what he did to the love of his life.Whartons use of the responsibility vs. passion motif in her novel Ethan Frome is very apparent. Frome is preoccupied by his own responsibilities first to his mother and father and then later his responsibility regarding his marriage to Zeena. It is these responsibilities that stand in Ethans way ofachieving a paradise, whether it be in the form of an education at Worcester, or a relationship with Mattie Silver.