What happens in chapter one of Ethan Frome?
As Chapter 1 begins, Ethan is going into town to walk Mattie Silver home from a dance at the church. Instead of going into the church, Ethan hides in the shadows near a window and watches Mattie dance with Denis Eady. His jealousy prompts Ethan to recall some of the qualities that make Mattie precious to him.
What happened in chapter 3 of Ethan Frome?
Ethan blurts out that he plans to collect some money from Andrew Hale. Andrew owes him money for wood. Hale isn’t going to give Ethan any money, and he knows it. But, now Zeena will be counting on that money, and will find a way to spend it before he gets it.
What happens in chapter 5 of Ethan Frome?
Ethan and Mattie finally get a night alone together, and they spend it in domestic, rather than physical, bliss. Ethan, with his strict morals, doesn’t want to have an affair with Mattie. He wants to be married to her. But marriage is impossible because he’s already married to Zeena, as the superimposed faces show.
What happened in chapter 6 of Ethan Frome?
Ethan tells Mattie he will be back from the mill in time for dinner. The weather has gotten warmer and a wet snow has fallen and made the roads icy. Ethan plans to drive another load of logs to town and buy some glue to fix the pickle-dish while sending Jotham to fetch Zeena at the train station.
Why did Ethan marry Zeena?
Ethan married Zeena because he was afraid of silence, just as his mother was. The Fromes appear to suffer from a fear of loneliness, which causes them to make poor decisions.
Why is Ethan jealous of Denis Eady?
Ethan is jealous of Denis Eady as he is free to woo Mattie without hindrance.
Does Ethan Frome kiss Mattie?
Zeena tells Ethan that the new girl will be arriving the next day and that Mattie will have to leave at once. Ethan leaves the bedroom and finds Mattie downstairs in the kitchen. Without explaining why, Ethan embraces and kisses Mattie, caught up in love for her and hate for Zeena.
Did Mattie love Ethan?
As a young woman, Mattie seems to be truly in love with Ethan. Everything from turning down Denis Eady to declaring her love indicates that her affection for Ethan is sincere.
Why does Ethan regret lying to Zeena?
what lie does Ethan tell Zeena, why does he tell it, and why does he regret it? He told her he would be getting money from Andrew Hale so he wouldn’t have to take her to the Flats, and he regretted because she would spend more money on medication.
Where does Ethan kiss Mattie?
Ethan leaves the bedroom and finds Mattie downstairs in the kitchen. Without explaining why, Ethan embraces and kisses Mattie, caught up in love for her and hate for Zeena.
Why is Ethan late for glue?
Delayed by problems, Ethan decides to go to Starkfield to get the glue to mend Zeena’s red dish after his mid-day meal. He wants to get home and mend the dish before Zeena’s return. In the village, Ethan is further delayed when the first shop he tries doesn’t have what he needs.
Why does Zeena feel they will be able to afford to hire a girl?
Why does Zeena feel they will be able to afford to hire a girl? Zeena states that if they get rid of Mattie and use the money Ethan got from John Hale, they will be able to afford the hired girl. The implication is that the townspeople suspect Ethan having an affair with Mattie.
What is the plot of Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton?
Ethan Frome Summary. The Narrator, an engineer assigned to a job at a power plant near the town of Starkfield, MA, is intrigued by a tall crippled man he sees at the local post office. He learns that the man, Ethan Frome, was injured in a sledding accident 24 years earlier, but can get little more from the secretive locals.
Who is the narrator in Ethan Frome book?
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Ethan Frome, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The Narrator ‘s “vision” of Ethan Frome’s story , told in the third person, begins. It is winter in Starkfield.
Why was Ethan attracted to Mattie in Ethan Frome?
Ethan Frome Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis. As an orphan with no inheritance, Mattie is dependent on her relatives for support. Ethan is attracted to Mattie partly because she listens respectfully to what he tells her and admires his learning. Unlike Zeena, who questions his authority, Mattie makes Ethan feel masterful.
Who is Zeena Frome in the book SparkNotes?
She is cousin to Ethan’s wife, Zeena, and has been living with the Fromes as a housekeeper for over a year. Ethan, who has come to walk Mattie home from the dance, has become quite attached to her in the course of the year, finding a kinship with her in their mutual appreciation of nature.