Ethan Frome (1911) By Edith Wharton

 

When Ethan Frome was published reviewers described it as an unfortunate love story that was not to be. Well, maybe, I guess, for hopeless romantics looking for subplot. Heaven-forbid people read the book for what it actually is, a manifesto on the impact of generational poverty. Or am I being too cynical?

The novella was written by Edith Wharton, an acclaimed author who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1921 for The Age of Innocence. She is widely recognized as a chronicler of the “gilded age.” One could say Ethan Frome, published in 1911 chronicles the other 98%,

Yes there is a missed love story in the book, but it stands as Exhibit A on what poverty and lack of healthcare does to limit one’s personal options.

Ethan is the son of a dirt-poor farmer/timberman. When his father dies, he forfeits all hopes for an education because he must take care of the farm, the mill, and his mother. When she becomes ill, he must add her care to his daily task list. His outside social contacts in the rural area where he lives disappear due to a total lack of time. Distant relatives “help out” by sending him a woman named Zeena who has become a financial burden for them, to aid in taking care of the mother. He marries her because they need each other, not for love. After the death of his mother, Zeena too becomes ill, and spiteful. Ethan becomes ever deeper in financial ruin. Her family sends a cousin to “help out.” She is a young woman named Mattie that had also become another financial burden, first to them, now to him.

Zeena hates her, sensing competition. Ethan does eventually fall in love with Mattie, unconsumated, but they can’t run away together for lack of money and for his felt moral obligations. Zeena insists Mattie has to be replaced as incompetent. The doctor decides Zeena must have more professional help, another financial burden he can’t afford: the farm, the mill, the his wife, cousin, and now a paid outsider.

Not an uplifting subplot to be found. And it gets worse.

Recommendation: No, professionally written, but deeply depressing.