Quite Intriguing

[lazybe]

It is important to understand that this story is NOT Ethan Frome's point of view, but rather the point of view of a very unreliable, and highly imaginative narrator. The narrator gains insight into the life of Ethan Frome from several different people who tell him totally different versions of the same story. The narrator, a visitor to Starkfield, conjures up the story out of the recesses of his imagination. Remember, to understand a story, we really do need to understand who it is that is telling the story.

[Caitlin]

You're right. But there is a reason why it was told (at least) from Ethan's mindset, if not his point of view; why the book was written with his private thoughts in mind, which no one but him could know. Maybe it was to show the restlessness of a long term consequence from a short term decision (getting married to Zena)...maybe something else; either way, I'd doubt she'd write all his inner, personal feelings for nothing. The narrator at the beginning and the end of the book also helps the reader to see the situation from an outsider's point of view, like examining the results of someone's experiment without knowing what went on.

[Horace]

I agree with many of the things you pointed out. However there are a few things that I question.<br><br>Like Lazybe said, the story is NOT in Ethan’s point of view. The story is told in first person while the narrator (A visitor in Starkfield) pieces the story together as he listens to other people telling the story. I think you meant to say that you liked how it focused on Ethan instead of Mattie or Zeena, and how it shows he’s a real man looking for love, not sex. I do agree with you on that point. The love in this story is quite intense. Having a wife complaining in your house all the time is neither pleasant nor lovable, and to escape from her while she loves him is quite disgusting, especially when she suffers from illnesses that cannot be taken lightly. His hate for Zeena and his love for Mattie battles and that’s what made me read on to the next chapter.<br><br>Now about the ending, I didn’t really like the ending. I agree that it was surprising that they would agree to do such a thing, but I don’t believe that death will solve their problem. They could have run away, which would be too obvious. Ethan could have even kick Zeena out of the house, which would be too much to do when a lady’s sick. In the end their attempt to suicide didn’t work. They still live, in horrible conditions, but I feel that the conflict is not totally solved, which I do not like. In my opinion, the conflict of the story is still there because those three is still living with each other, even though they are as dead as a rock. The setting of the ending is still the same 3 persons in the same house, and it just gives me the feeling that New England life is long, and depressive.<br><br>You said that Edith Warton is using satire on the idea of “I would die to be with you.” I never thought of that and I just wanted to ask what made you think that she was using satire. I’m not sure if Edith Warton is a satirist so I did a little research online but got no results that she was. When I first read the book, I thought she used this idea to add drama into the story. It did add an unexpected scene of romance and love on the level of life and death. They wanted love from each other more than life. So can you please tell me, “What made you think Edith Warton was using satire for the ending?”<br>

[Caitlin]

I'll be the first to admit that I couldn't put this book down. I guess because I'm sort of a romantic. Compared to other things I've had to read (including my ultimately favorite book, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte), the diction is very simple, so simple an average reader would get into it, and although it's a little odd, I find that attracts more people than puts them off. I think the thing I like best about it is it's viewed from Ethan's point of view--a man's feelings on love. All these movies and media trends portray men as only interested in sex, or having a dependable wife. Ethan breaks away from all that exterior machoness and really confesses that he loves Mattie--not only loves, it seems he's obsessed, which I like; it shows the whole idea of love is not always pretty or perfect. But it's quite intense.<br><br>What she does at the very end no one likes--you aren't supposed to--but we have to remember that Edith Wharton is a satirist; she's making fun of this "I would die to be with you" idea, and putting them in a literal hell on earth. Although I know this, I don't care for it, even though it's kind of cool, because no one expected it. It's sad that my opinion of it went way down at the end, because I didn't get the romantic story I was promised. I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I will again someday. I hope their are more men like Ethan Frome out there, at least in love aspects. ^_~