The Role Of Isolation In Wharton's Ethan Frome

In the novel Ethan Frome whom is written by Edith Wharton, isolation plays a big role in why and what the character’s do in the novel.* Zeena is the character that is isolated in the novel. Through out Zeena’s life during the novel, she goes through two major changes. She experiences herself stuck within isolation and does not know who to get herself back. She is not the only person who realizes that she is not the same. Many people including her own husband Ethan notices it. But Zeena is a person who has to feel that she is helping someone in order for her to be the real Zeena. Zeena feels like herself, happy and just like normal while taking care of Ethan’s mother but once his mother passes, she goes into isolation. She does not even realize …show more content…
Her change takes place once Ethan’s mother has passed away and she does not have anyone to no longer to take care of. Back when they first got married, Zeena would do everything around the house. And her and Ethan would get along great. But once this change took place in Zeena, nothing is great between them. Ethan is not so sure what caused her to get sick and not be able to do anything. One thing Ethan does know for sure is that Zeena is not the same as once he married her. Even though, winter had a part in their marriage. He knew that she was still okay to marry. Now, Ethan is trying to figure why he married her and how to get out of the marriage with her. Zeena is not what Ethan wants anymore because her being sick all of the time. Also, because they only fight and argue most of the time when they actually talk to one another. Zeena tells Ethan, “The doctor says it’ll be my dearth if I go on slaving the way I’ve had to. He doesn’t understand how I’ve stood it as long as I have.” (Page 64) Ethan then replies to her, “Slaving!” (Page 64) Resulting to them getting mad at one another and just going on different ways, not talking. They are no longer happy with each other. Leaving their marriage in a very bad place because of Zeena and her sickness and isolated …show more content…
But she had no idea what caused it. Sadly, her being sick left others around town feeling like they could talk about her. Many people around the town Starkfield, would talk about her all the time being sick and that she was always sick. She had not always been sick, she was in good health and fine while caring for Ethan’s mother. Also, she was once again fine when Ethan and Mattie got into their wreck and had to be cared for. Before Zeena found herself caring for Ethan and Mattie, she was isolated. She was isolated within herself because she knew that she was not happy. And that lead her to be so sick all the time because she did not know what to do about it. Thankfully, Zeena finally found herself once again. She cared for Ethan and Mattie. Even though, she had many thoughts about it. She still cared for them and did her best for them. Also while doing that, she found herself back to doing what she loved and not being sick all the time. Sometimes in life, no one can tell you what to do or how you should feel because your mind and body will eventually find its own way back to