ends much of the first few chapters describing the scene in a New England town Starkfield. When I think of a town called Starkfield, a gloomy, barren place with nothing that can grow comes to mind. As the author continues to describe this town, it just reinforces what I had originally thought. In the beginning of the story, while describing why Ethan looked the way he did, Harmon said “guess he’s been in Starkfield too many winters. Most of the smart ones get away”(Wharton 2). This does not give the impression that this is an enjoyable or a healthy place to live. The winters seem so ruthless in this story that the narrator describes them as “ this phase of crystal clearness followed by long stretches of sunless cold and he could understand why Starkfeild emerged from its six months siege like a starved garrison capitulating without quarter”(Wharton 3). Starkfeild seems like a very oppressive place to live. It is understandable why ‘the smart ones get away’.Deeper into the story, as the narrator gets to know Ethan, we get a description of Ethan’s house, which is very symbolic of the story as well. The narrator describes the house as “one of those lonely New England farm-houses that make the landscape lonelier”(Wharton 7). The house had a stunted look to it due to the absence of the “L”, a typical feature on New England farmhouses, which is an attachment that connects the house to the woodshed and cow-barn (Wharton 8). The “L” is symbolic of heart of the house, the chief source of warmth and nourishment. The absence of this “L” suggests that the livelihood of this household is nonexistent. Ethan’s family doesn’t have what many families have, warmth, love, and children. The Frome family lacks the same strength and connectedness that is conveyed by the absence of this “L”.When Zeena goes out of town for medical treatment, ...
