Ethan Frome
I read Ethan Frome as part of my 2nds reading challenge, where you read a second book by an author of whose work you’ve previously only read one book. That’s just awkward…I always have trouble explaining this challenge. Anyway, awhile ago I read The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton, for last winter’s classics challenge. I thought it was a sad, tragic tale, and so well written, that I wanted more of Ms. Wharton. So when I saw this challenge, I thought it would be the perfect time to pick up Ethan Frome.
If you haven’t read Ethan Frome (wikipedia page, plot spoilers!), it is the story of a man scraping out his existence on a small farm in Massachusetts, and sticking around to care for his aged parents. They die, and he is so afraid of the silence born by long, cold, dark winters that he asks his mother’s caregiver, Zeena, to marry him. So, they marry, and it turns out, ironically, that she isn’t much of a chatterbox either, and what’s more, she appears to be a hypochondriac. Lovely. So, now Ethan appears doomed to live out his life, suffering through the long, dark, cold winters with a woman who will not move to a livelier town (she likes to be somewhat of a big fish in a small pond), doesn’t talk much, and is forever spending what little money Ethan can force out of the rocky soil of his farm on one worthless treatment after another for her myriad ailments. And yet, there is perhaps hope, in the person of Mattie. Mattie is Zeena’s destitute, orphaned cousin, who has nowhere to go and no money, and thus will come and care for Zeena in exchange for room and board. Mattie is a cheerful person, and gives Ethan hope that life might perhaps not need to continue on its current bleak trajectory.
If I were to tell you that the graphic I found, above, was from an operatic version of Ethan Frome, would that give you any slight indication of how things turn out? Maybe? I liked this book quite a bit, though I confess that I kind of wish I were reading it in college, for a literature class, because it seems one heavy with symbolism, and while I am perfectly capable of figuring out symbolism on my own (cold, bleak landscape…land that is barely able to produce enough crops to keep them alive…rocks, snow, bleak bleak bleak…), sometimes it’s interesting to talk about it for a little while with your classmates.
11 Comments
ML
I read this book in high school and we delved into the symbolism of this story. I was absolutely bored out of my mind at the time (I was probably 14 so I guess that’s my excuse).
I think now I would give this book a shot, but it is quite depressing.
J
ML, I think it would be interesting for one conversation, not the weeks that a HS class would give it. And at 14, it would have been painful, I think.
Ally
I didn’t read Ethan Frome in college or high school either. I read The House of Mirth for the first time a few months ago and was mesmerized by it. I don’t know if I’m ready for a depressing book right now, or not. Still I liked Wharton’s way with words, so I’ll give it a look.
Py Korry
Sometimes the bleakest stories have the deepest meaning, and you can tease more of that meaning out in a group than you can individually. I’m not sure I could stomach this novel right now, but maybe when later when I’m in a darker mood. 🙂
Starshine
Poor Ethan! 🙂
As always, I’m impressed with how you crank through books so fast! Go girl!
kookiejar
I have never read a review of this book that makes it sound interesting until now. I love the way you phrase things. Thanks.
Jess
I really need to read more classics. And yes, you make this book sound very appealing!
Gina
As you probably already know, I love this story with a passion, even though it is so totally depressing. But, I sort of throw myself right into it, because I just think that every word of this story is perfect.
dew
This book irritated me. I had no patience for any of the characters. I wanted to stage an intervention for all of them.
lalunas
This is one sad and crazy story.
--Deb
I do enjoy Edith Wharton even if so many of her books are tragic. (I can’t help it, I like happy endings.) Her writing is divine and she captures her era so well, though, what’s not to like?
Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I read any Edith Wharton . . . maybe I’ll pull my copy of “Age of Innocence” off the shelf this weekend. It’s been years since I read that one….