Ethan Frome: The Significance of Setting in Edith Wharton's Novel

Edith Wharton, a famous American novelist, and playwright, is known for her works that depict the life of the upper class of New York during the early 1900s. Her writing style often highlights the themes of love, marriage, and social status. One of Wharton's famous works is Ethan Frome, which tells the story of a man's tragic life in a small town in New England. The novel's setting has a significant impact on the main character's character development, relationships, and overall narrative. In this essay, I will analyze the importance of the setting in Ethan Frome by examining how it defines the characters, the societal norms, and the conflicts the characters face within the community.
Defining the Characters' Personality
The setting of Ethan Frome reveals the character of the novel's protagonist and his wife, Zeena. Frome's life is defined by the environment he lives in, which is a small town in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. The town's physical setting of rugged terrain and harsh weather, brutal winters, and oppressive summers reflect the character of Ethan Frome. Frome is a tortured individual because of the physical harm he has endured in life, and the setting reiterates this. The snow and ice dominate the setting of the novel. The frozen "landscape" of the novel foreshadows the characters' tragic fate as trapping and trapping in their small, nihilistic community. The environment, in combination with the character's servitude, lifts the story from a social commentary to a tragic drama.
Similarly, Zeena's character is influenced by the town's atmosphere, particularly, the isolation due to the weather, the remoteness, and lack of transport links. Zeena's personality is molded by the town's oppressive social and economic constraints. She is an embodiment of the limitations placed on women in late nineteenth-century New England. The economic realities of the time prevented her from leaving the farm, though she was horribly unhappy there and desperately tried to hold on to her infirmity as a source of power over her husband. The entire social situation and environmental atmosphere dictate Zeena's personality, which is further affected by her illness.
Societal Norms and Expectations
The setting in Ethan Frome also reflects the societal norms and expectations of the time. The novel portrays the strict social hierarchy and the rigid class structure of that era. Frome's life was limited by this social system, and it's apparent that his fate is sealed. Frome's poor state limits his prospects of making a change in his life, his future, and that of his family.
The town's isolation and the social values prevent the inhabitants from seeking better opportunities. Frome's desire, which is hampered by social expectations and societal limitations, is to break free from his situation. The town's oppressive atmosphere is made up of inflexible social and gender roles that limit people from progressing economically and socially. The exceptional serenity admired by some of the town members masks these underlying struggles.
Conflict and Resolution
In addition to character development and societal expectations, the setting of Ethan Frome highlights the conflicts the characters face. Frome's desire to leave the town and start a new life with Mattie lead to a series of events that results in their tragic end. The setting provides a bleak for the narrative, and Wharton's depiction of the town's harsh atmosphere highlights the character's internal struggles and conflict in a hopeless environment.
The town's restrictive society and the harsh winter further complicates this conflict with Frome, as his circumstances dictate his choices. The snowy and icy conditions reflect the hopelessness that the characters encounter. The snowy, cold, and rigid environment creates an innately hostile living environment for the characters. The profound sense of oppression and lack of hope results in the necessary bleakness of the final resolution.
Conclusion
The setting of Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome is significant as it impacts the entire narrative. The bleak environment and oppressive society mirror the main character's internal struggles with love, desire, and class limitations. The physical challenges and psychological struggles faced by the characters are also highlighted by the setting, ultimately leading to the novel's tragic end. By understanding the ways setting can reveal characters, societies, and conflicts, we gain a deeper appreciation of the importance of setting in literature.
References
Wharton, E. (1911). Ethan Frome. Charles Scribner’s Sons.