Ethan Frome

A portrait of a man trapped by his circumstances. Edith Wharton’s short classic introduces readers to beleaguered farmer Ethan Frome who returned to Starkfield, Massachusetts after his parents became ill and subsequently died. He married his mother’s caregiver Zeena but she is not well suited for living on a farm. Ethan’s plans for his life struggle to come to fruition, as both the farm and his marriage prove to be difficult. Zeena is a hypochondriac and believes she is on her deathbed. When her young cousin Mattie comes to care for her, Ethan finds himself developing feelings for Mattie and fixated on the happiness she represents against his humdrum existence. The dilemma comes to a head during the bleak winter.