Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome is a classic story of love and hate. Ethan Frome, a young lover, is married to Zeena Frome. However, as his wife’s health worsens, her younger cousin comes to stay with them. Mattie Silver, Zeena’s cousin, is full of life and brings joy to the Ethan’s life. Zeena worsens and Ethan falls in love with Mattie. When bitter Zeena catches on to their love for one another, she sends Mattie away and hires help from a new girl. Ethan can’t bear the thought of being without Mattie, so they go sledding just before she is scheduled to leave Starkfield. They go sledding in an attempt to hit the big elm tree and end their lives. They’d rather be dead than apart. Unfortunately, they are severely crippled but not dead. And that is how Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena spend the rest of their days together: Crippled, miserable, and bitter.
Ethan Frome is a young man who fell in love, but not with a person necessarily. He fell in love with companionship. He was with his mother and was happy. When she grew ill and stopped communicating, Ethan found happiness with Zeena. She offered a bright face and someone to talk with. When Zeena grew ill, he fell in love with Mattie. Ethan lost Mattie to illness as well as every other woman in his life. He grows old miserably because when Mattie and Zeena are ill, he has no one.
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