plot of Ethan Frome turns. The story of the life of ethan Why is Ethan in the village, how does he feel as he watches the dance He is picking Mattie's up from the dance, that he will never be happy Describe Mattie, why … Mattie’s character constitutes the hinge on which the Ethan is married to Zeena, a nagging hypochondriac, and Mattie, a girl of relation to Zeena who does some housework and is very beautiful. Gravity. Even in her recklessness, so strongly established Mattie as the horrid Zeena’s polar opposite, 'Ethan Frome' is to me above all else a judgment on that system which fails to redeem such villages as Mrs. Wharton’s Starkfield." 2. As a result, their money was gone. As a result, their money was gone. Her father had been the envy of relatives; he'd moved to Connecticut, married, and led everyone to believe his business ventures were successful. Spell. When we meet Mattie in the Epilogue, we see that her physical transformation is even more drastic than Ethan's. Who is Mattie in Ethan Frome? The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed. Ethan Frome is in a terrible dilemma. After his death, the family found out that he had mismanaged the money they had invested in his business ventures. How does Harmon Gow ... What basic difference between Ethan and Mattie is highlighted in this chapter? Mattie's personality contrasts with that of Zeena. Mattie understands that it is not possible to escape from the situation. The young woman who joins them is a beautiful, spirited person. She and Ethan fall in love much to the dismay of Zeena. Frome is at first too conventional, and too dominated by his wife, to make a move. Created by. Nevertheless, one cannot help Her father had been the envy of relatives; he'd moved to Connecticut, married, and led everyone to believe his business ventures were successful. Reviewing the Selection Recalling and Interpreting 1. The beautiful, sensitive, and loving girl that Ethan fell in love with, in a sense, did die the night of the smash-up. STUDY. You can view our. Ethan tells Mattie that he is "tied hand and foot," and "there isn't a thing I can do." Mattie Silver was the daughter of a cousin of Zenobia Frome’s, who had inflamed his clan with mingled sentiments of envy and admiration by descending from the hills to Connecticut, where he had married a Stamford girl and succeeded to her father’s thriving “drug” business. Ethan is, quite literally, a … Their aborted suicide attempt transforms Mattie forever. All of the story’s events are set in motion by her presence in the Frome household. Instead, they ruin their lives. At age 20, Mattie was left alone with only fifty dollars from the sale of her piano. Mattie reveals that she has the note Ethan wrote to Zeena the previous night, and his love for her is clear. If you were taking a long trip and one of these characters was going to be your traveling com - panion, which would you choose? Ethan hopes that Mattie will marry and stay in Starkfield. reciprocates Ethan’s feelings for her. She rarely completes her daily tasks; however, rather than listen to Zeena complain (and because he is in love with Mattie), Ethan steps in and "supplement(s) her unskilled efforts.". After his death though, the family found that he had mismanaged his remaining money and they were broke. As a result of the accident, Mattie is paralyzed from the neck down. Mattie is Zeena Frome's cousin. Mattie and Ethan give in to passion, but the result is not freedom. Mattie is Zeena Frome's cousin. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. and his perception of her is skewed by his passion. He wants to be married to her. Mattie is not a "fretter;" she doesn't complain. Passion is not a liberator; Ethan and Mattie are not in control of their feelings. Ethan Frome ends up marrying Zeena as she came to help him care for his dying mother. Ethan Frome The protagonist of the story, Ethan is a farmer whose family has lived and died on the same Massachusetts farm for generations. She worked at odd jobs, and it was not long before she became ill. Mattie's relatives punished her for her father's mismanagement of their money by refusing to give her financial assistance. Zeena: it is better that Ethan die a quick death with Mattie, we For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:). ― Edith Wharton, Ethan Frome. Ethan Frome Quotes Showing 1-30 of 39. When Mattie and Ethan succumb to it, they destroy themselves. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Why has she come to Starkfield? Mattie would only be about 45 years old at the end of the book, but is described as having not only aged drastically, but also of having "soured." Several times she asks Ethan if Zeena's intention is to send her away. The largest conflict in Ethan Frome is Ethan's conflict within himself to decide between a quiet life with Zeena, or an adventurous one with Mattie. The theme of illicit passion is not given a happy spin in Ethan Frome. Yet we her as rather immature, ready to give in to whatever passionate Mattie seems preferable to the shrewish, complaining, curmudgeonly Ethan directs her way, and that the rebellion and escape she represents Ethan Frome is a 1993 British-American romantic historical drama film directed by John Madden, and starring Liam Neeson, Patricia Arquette, Joan Allen and Tate Donovan. Mattie and Ethan … Zenobia (Zeena) Frome. other than the red decoration she wears, which symbolizes both passion All rights reserved. She came from a relatively wealthy part of the family. (and foolish) thoughts enter her head. When Mattie Silver was the maid of the Frome home, Ethan almost instantly fell for her. She is healthy, happy, and pretty. Ethan is able to savor his evening with Mattie, although Zeena's absence causes some constraint. Her father was a successful businessman. You mean Zeena ain’t happy with me?’ a F Ethan Frome b F Jotham Powell c F Andrew Hale d F Mattie Silver 24 ‘I’m much sicker than you think.’ a F Ruth Hale b F Mattie Silver c F Zeena Frome d F Ethan Frome 25 ‘Oh, Ethan. He truly believes they are soul mates. He tells Mattie not to cry, and this command gives him a feeling of mastery he hasn't felt in a long time. Why? Attractive, young, and energetic, Mattie becomes the object of Ethan's affection, and reciprocates his infatuation. katie_deritis ... False. In the final chapter, Ethan Frome takes Mattie to Shadow Pond so that they can relive some fond memories. are set in motion by her presence in the Frome household. Removing #book# Mattie Silver is the cousin of Zeena Frome, Ethan's wife. She admires Ethan's observations and thoughts, and shares his appreciation of nature. The combination of Mattie and Zeena are Ethan Frome’s downfall. from your Reading List will also remove any Mattie has served the pickles in one of Zeena's best cut-glass dishes, and when the cat accidentally breaks it, both she and Ethan are terrified. Test. Ethan Frome is a 1911 book by American author Edith Wharton. physically, mentally, emotionally Related Questions Browse All Ethan Frome. The main characters are Ethan Frome, his wife Zenobia, called Zeena, and her young cousin Mattie Silver. Yet we glimpse Mattie, as we glimpse Zeena, only through Ethan’s eyes, and his perception of her is skewed by his passion. This passage is adapted from Edith Wharton, Ethan Frome, originally published in 1911. Ethan went to bed, blowing out the candle before he crawled in so as to avoid looking at his wife. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. When Ethan takes Mattie to the train station (which they never reach), she declares her love for him and admits that she doesn't think she can live without Ethan. He married his wife Zeena. Mattie experiences an internal conflict when Zeena finally does want Mattie out of the house. At the time of the Epilogue, she has lived with the Fromes and been cared for by Zeena for over twenty years. While hauling lumber early the next morning, Ethan reflects on the events of the previous night and circumstances that brought Mattie to Starkfield. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Mattie Silver Quotes in Ethan Frome The Ethan Frome quotes below are all either spoken by Mattie Silver or refer to Mattie Silver. During the year that Mattie lives with the Fromes it is apparent that Mattie is "quick to learn, but forgetful and dreamy." Write. The other option is that the pickle dish, a wedding present to Ethan and Zeena, could signal the figurative end of their marriage, which was already damaged and strained. Mattie is distinguished by little Ethan Frome Quotes. Come on, let’s take a ride!’ a F Ethan Frome b F Denis Eady c F Andrew Hale d F Jotham Powell 23 ‘Leave? girl she actually is. Throughout the novel, Wharton foreshadows the tragedy that befalls Mattie. rebellion against his unhappy life. False. Zeena, however viewed Mattie's impoverishment as an opportunity and invited Mattie to move to Starkfield. It is clear to us, and soon enough to Frome, that Mattie likes him. His destruction was caused by his responsibility to Zeena and his love for Mattie. Latest … Readers of Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (1911) can hardly fail to be moved by the suffering of the title character. glimpse Mattie, as we glimpse Zeena, only through Ethan’s eyes, and any corresponding bookmarks? The first possibility is that the destruction of the pickle dish signals the ruin of Ethan’s and Zeena’s pleasant evening. Ethan was married to a sickly women named Zeena. While the accident physically injured Ethan, and the events injured his heart and soul, he is still the sweet, kind, gentle man with whom Mattie … A sensitive figure, Ethan has a deep, almost mystical appreciation of nature, and he feels a strong connection to the youth, beauty, and vital spirit of Mattie … feels Zeena has denied him, and so becomes the focus of his aborted tags: love , lovers. He's finally found a way to tolerate life in Starkfield. Until the very end, we cannot even be certain that Mattie Ethan Frome:. It is set in the fictitious town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. Mattie feels insecure about her position at the Fromes because she senses Zeena's dislike of her. Frome and Zeena marry after she nurses his mother in her last illness. Ethan Frome Chapter Questions Prologue 1. Frome labored to wrest a living from the hard land, and was relieved when a young cousin, Mattie (Patricia Arquette), came to work and live with them. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. The novel was adapted into a film, Ethan Frome, in 1993. What elements disturb Mattie and Ethan’s evening together? 3. 2. “I want to put my hand out and touch you. novel, Mattie’s true self does shine through, we see her as an impulsive, melodramatic PLAY. True. Mattie became Zeena's indentured servant, working as Zeena's aide in exchange for a roof over her head and food to eat. 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