Ethan Frome and Selected Stories by Edith Wharton (Essay Sample)

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Ethan Frome and Selected Stories by Edith Wharton
Ethan Frome and selected stories by Edith Wharton is a compelling classic of American literature that encompass compelling characters confined in difficult situations. The main character is Ethan Frome, who is a portrayed as a farmer. However, Ethan Frome presents a uniquely American character throughout the novel presenting the American spirit.
An American is someone who believes in American, regardless of the mistake that has been made. The person has hopes and dreams that make the American culture better. An American means that a person will help another without expecting returns. An American is driven by the spirit, ‘Give more and expect less.’ It is clear that most countries in the world depend on America for assistance in making America look greats. The novel ‘Ethan Frome and selected stories’ are centered on the character Ethan Frome (Wharton, 109). Though there are other characters in the novel, the character Ethan Frome is presented in a unique way presenting the American spirit through his actions and thoughts as his life face crisis. Throughout the story, Ethan Frome has a strong moral sense driven by his motivations. He makes extreme efforts to show his wife. He is full of goodness that are not doubtful. It is the American spirit full of fundamental goodness without considering the consequences or the returns in any form. Driven by the American dream, it is a state of mind of the American to lead others to do things in the right direction. Ethan Frome is just a farmer who does not have anything, but strive to do good and help others achieve what they want. He is an ordinary man from a small town in Massachusetts, who works hard and does everything he can help others and provides for his family as well as make a better community for others (Wharton, 111).
Ethan Frome is shown as a frustrating character because of lack of potential to help the community. As a result, the theme of conflict between social conviction and passion comes in to show the true effects of the human spirit who is willing to help the community, but limited by his inability. The effect of the conflict between social conviction and passion seem to conjure to make Ethan Frome a passive, a distressed character of the situation, weighted down by his devotion to his wife, but more distressed by his status as a poor farmer. His whole life is full of the American dream that is shutdown by his status of being a poor farmer. For example, his wife's illness and his deprived status destroy his passion for wider prospects, which is shown in his anticipation to vacate Starkfield and his passion in engineering, but ending up becoming a mere farmer. Likewise, his willings for Mattie is destroyed by his incapability for breaking free of Zeena. He is a responsive man, but his inability weakens his emotional strength to act in circumstances. As a result, he faces little audacity and unable to face situations concerning any decision.
The theme of conflict between passion and social conviction is centered on the character Ethan Frome willingness to do good things for the community, but limited by inability. It represents the true American human spirit of helping others. It may be the most important theme in the novel that represent the American society in a unique way. The conflict between passion and social conviction occurs between Ethan’s desires and the constrictions placed on him by the community, which further controls his conscience and hinder the fulfillment of his desires (Wharton, 88).
An American is a person who is not selfish, but a generous person and focus on other’s peoples' interest. Drawing from the novel ‘Ethan and selected stories,’ the character Ethan Frome is shown as an unselfish character who does not look upon himself, but lookup at other’s interest. Ethane was interested achieving other peoples needs and acted to serve others rather than himself. All of his troubles were as a result of his unselfish ambitions of helping others and forgetting about him. His poverty life was as a result of his decision to help his family prior to dropping out of school to work on his father’s farm. He had his dreams of becoming an engineer and wanted to a good life and leave Startsville. However, the death of his mother made him marry Zeena because of his kindness. He felt so much of Zeena and forgot about himself the decision that left him to abandon his hopes for a good life, as well as his dreams. All his decisions were influenced by his unselfish ambitions and good natured moral convictions. However, these decisions did not favor him, but other peoples. Every decision contributed to his status; becoming poorer. For example, his duty to a woman that he did not love, but driven to marry her because of circumstances and his kindness, which hindered him in his steps to escape whenever he wanted and finally led him to try suicide. The unselfishness ambitions drove him to act willingly for others. For example, when Mattie told him that they can sled down the hill and hit the giant tree (Wharton, 115), Ethan accepted without considering about himself. It is a mistake that Ethan could not turn around and see the consequences. Through it, Ethan presents a unique American. He believes in himself regardless of the mistake that he has made. He has hopes and dream that will make his life better by becoming an engineer, which was destroyed by his kindness. By not achieving his dreams, death becomes an appealing option for him.
An American is a person who feels responsible for others and work hard to achieve once duty. Ethan Frome displays the quality of being responsible throughout the story. He lives the resentment of his lost chances and discontent with his depressing life and empty marriage. He is confined by social bounds and obligation to his wife. Ethan lives without the joy in his marriage with a bunch of responsibilities and little sovereignty. He was to become an engineer, which was probably the beginning of his success and a better life. However, he dropped out of school to take care of his father’s mill and the farm because he felt it was his responsibility to do that. Moreover, he feels it is his responsibility to take care of Zeena, who was nursing his mother. As a result, Ethan marries Zeena with no love in him and forget his life dreams. Zeena is older than Ethan and ugly, but Ethan decides to marry her. However, Ethan’s real sense of putting his accountabilities before his self-interests becomes his negative impacts on his life (Wharton, 116). Throughout the story, it is clear that everything that Ethan worked to achieve turned against him. American is faced with this problem when they try to achieve something; it turns against them. For example, the September bombing in New York killed many American citizens. It was as a result of Americans willing to fight terrorism in the world and save the world from terrorism. The act of American attacking Afghanistan to save the world replicated to them, whereby, they were attacked by terrorists. It was the feeling of responsibilities for the Americans that they volunteered to fight and end terrorism in the world by sending their armies that were devoted to conquering terrorism.
The modus operandi of Ethan’s life shows an American unique way of life. To some people it can bring hope and happiness and a sense of stability while it can cause a feeling of trammel. Ethan experience this form of feelings of being trammeled by his day to day responsibilities. Family duties, societal anticipation and his external and internal appearances. Ethan is so much pressured by societal anticipations that hinders him from showing his public love to Mattie through it. His marital duty forces him to leave with Zeena even though he does not love her, but love Mattie. E...