Ethan Frome

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is a tragic novella set in the bleak, wintry town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. It centers on Ethan Frome, a struggling farmer trapped in a loveless marriage to his sickly and hypochondriac wife, Zeena. The arrival of Zeena’s lively cousin, Mattie Silver, who comes to help with household duties, brings hope and love into Ethan’s otherwise oppressive life. However, their mutual attraction is doomed by societal constraints, financial hardship, and moral dilemmas. In a desperate bid to escape their fate, Ethan and Mattie attempt a suicide pact through a sledding accident, which leaves them both grievously injured and bound to a life of dependency under Zeena’s care. The story explores themes of isolation, duty, and unfulfilled desire with poignant psychological realism.