Ethan Frome Setting Analysis

Set in the harsh winter landscape of Starkfield, Massachusetts, the characters in the novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton are profoundly impacted by the challenges and struggles that result from the austere surroundings. As a member of New York City’s elite upper class, Edith Wharton wrote numerous books with a setting in New York City and the upper class. However, Ethan Frome has a very different setting and the characters, therefore go through very different challenges and struggles. The plot of Ethan Frome often results from challenges caused by the weather, for example, when Ethan’s horse is injured on his way to town, from slipping on ice, he is forced to return home without the glue to fix Zeena’s pickle dish as well as the snowstorm that forces the narrator to lodge with the Fromes’ in the beginning of the book. Furthermore, the theme of the inability of characters, especially Ethan, to achieve their dreams results in a lack of fulfillment and unhappiness is significant to the severe landscape of Starkfield. Symbolizing an obstacle to goals, a lack of fulfillment, and a …show more content…
Due to the literal challenges that the weather presents, such as icy roads and snow, the characters more personal desires are also limited. This conflict between reality and internal desire is also reflected by Ethan’s inner wishes, such as becoming an engineer and moving to the city, versus his reality, which consists of thinking one thing but doing another. Because he does not take action in his goals, he is left feeling unfulfilled and unhappy. For example, at the end of the story because Ethan does not speak up with when Mattie wants to commit suicide with him, he is left with a physical ailment and with two cranky women. Because of this, his farm further suffers in the harsh landscape of Starkfield reflecting how he, Zeena, and Mattie are also