Since we have just finished reading Ethan Frome and we are not very far into As I lay dying I am going to write about some of the important aspects of Ethan Frome. These major aspects include Ethan’s representation of the setting of Starkfield, isolation, and Zeena’s favorite broken pickle dish.
Starkfield is described as a dull, bleak town that is separated from the surrounding towns (mainly because of the train). It has vast fields of boring, white snow that also happens to shut the town and its few residents down. Even the name Starkfield is descriptive of the town, it is a stark, old town surrounded and filled with fields. Ethan is boring, repetitive, not one of the smart ones who get away. Ethan goes through the same routine everyday on his rundown, broken farm and is just as boring and bleak as Starkfield. Ethan is the human embodiment of Starkfield.
Along with the setting comes the isolation, because Ethan is the human embodiment of Starkfield, and because Starkfield is isolated in their old fashioned home, Ethan is isolated also. Not only is Ethan isolated physically by the remote location of his farm and because of Starkfield, but he is also emotionally isolated because of his feelings for Mattie and Zeena. Ethan isolates himself from the two women because he feels an obligation to stay with Zeena and since Zeena rules Ethan will never tell Mattie his true feelings because Zeena is always with them (even when she is gone). Ethan finally tells his true feelings to Mattie but it turns out to be a bit late.
While Zeena is away seeking medical attention Mattie puts out Zeena’s favorite dish, which she has been instructed not to use, and the cat breaks it. The pickle dish represents Ethan and Zeena’s marriage, which wasn’t being used (it was kept up in the closet). When the dish breaks, their relationship breaks, Zeena comes home and suspects something and hires a new girl to come work and Mattie must leave. Ethan excessively searches for glue, like a chore, to put the dish back together, which represents the amount of work it takes to try to put something back together that you don’t want to e put back together.
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You mention Ethan's isolation from the women he loved. And that made me think that maybe it connects him even more to Starkfield... it's like he's buried his feelings for both women like all the snow in Starkfeild burying any beauty it may hold.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion that is what makes the story interesting. It's very weird and contradicting, but Ethan's isolation and "un-interesting" qualities in the book, makes the book different,w worthwhile and memorable from the rest of the books we have read in this class. He was a very awkward character, and he didn't have much going for him. All of this qualities were pretty much described as bland and boring, but if you look deeper into his life and his emotions, he had a lot of heart, and he cared so deeply about both of these women, that he was utterly bewildered by his own thoughts. He didn't know what to do, he wanted to make them both happy and didn't want to disappoint them, but however he ended up failing them and himself. This book was one of my favorites, because of the way it was written, the town and everything in it (but Mattie) corresponded to Ethan, and the one thing that was different, he was in love with. It's kind of a way of life, i guess the quote that stands out is "opposites attract"
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren on that the setting affects Ethan's personality and behavior, and how he detaches himself from everything. But i think that a characters setting plays a part in their personality no matter what. For example, Mattie came from the city and she is all bubbly and full of life, but the narrator also came form the city and he is curious and quiet. So different parts of people are affected by where they come from.
ReplyDeleteEthan Frome was by far my favorite book, besides Frankenstein, that we read all year. Ethan was a very strong character in the way he resembled his town and the way he acted towards Zeena. The only thing I don’t agree with Lauren about is how she describes Ethan being isolated also from Mattie. To me, I saw that Ethan came out of his shell and was defiantly less “stark-like” when he was alone with her. Although, Zeena’s odd presence through the cat and the pickle dish is what made him go back to his isolation. But if all reminders of Zeena were absent, Ethan defiantly became the man that is actually suitable for a relationship.
ReplyDeleteYes, i agree what makes the novel, Ethan Frome, interesting is the symbolism and strong imagery. Ethan Frome embodies Starkfield. The two exhibit the same characteristics of, dull, boring, and passionless.
ReplyDeleteYou mention the plot of Ethan Frome throughout the whole blogpost, I would just like to point out that you didn't say anthing that came from your own mind. What I want to know is what do you think about this plot? Why do you think these things happened?
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