The first challenge brought up and Ethan and Zeena’s Zeena’s relationship is Zeena’s illness. The couple in unable to further strengthen their relationship because they start to focus less on each other. Zeena is constantly leaving to seek medical support, and Ethan feels disturbed by the amount of money she spends, when the medicine is often ineffective. Since Zeena is too focused to finding new remedies, she does not pay much attention to her husband’s irritation. Wharton writes, ”Her abrupt resolve to seek medical advice showed that, as usual, she was wholly absorbed in her health”(Page 56). Zeena is headed to another doctor in hopes of curing herself, therefore causing her to pay little attention to her damaged marriage. The illness that
