an Frome’s life. As the novel unfolds, the reader experiences delight, sympathy, and hate at certain points. But in the end, the big impact is thrown at you( by using situation irony) and thus ending with the narrator in first person. The setting as well as the geography exposed in the novel remain basically the same throughout the story. The majority of events occur in the setting of Ethan Frome’s farmhouse. As the story progressed Wharton developed two cause and effect relationships. One begins with Ethan and Zeena. Ethan became obligated to marry Zeena after she “cured” Ethan’s mother. He saw how helpful and generous Zeena was and therefore married her. Through the years, Zeena complained about her imaginary ailments while Ethan struggled to make a living as a farmer. Thus leading them both into a bad marriage. From the start, Ethan seldom shows loving affection towards Zeena. Therefore Ethan ended up loving someone else, Zeena’s cousin, Mattie. The next cause & effect relationship involved Ethan and Mattie. They both began to feel strong affection towards one another, and through out the novel the reader realizes that they have fallen in love. When realizing they have to part, in despair, they both decide to end their lives. Instead they both become crippled and helpless for the rest of their lives. This “smash-up” brought on situation irony and marked the turning point in Ethan’s, Mattie’s, and Zeena’s lives. Ethan Frome by: Edith Wharton Enrique Solis Monday, September 13, 1999 AP English III Period 4. ...
