Narrator: The narrator of the story is a simple man who tries to take on an almost futile task. This is an almost futile task because the townspeople such as Ned Hale and Ruth Varnum do not like to talk about Frome. The townspeople do not avoid the subject of Frome due to disapproval, but rather a sense of such extreme sadness that it is difficult to speak about. This task is to find out about Ethan Frome's past. More specifically the narrator wants to discover what events led up to Frome's tragic present condition. "All the dwellers in Starkfield, as in more notable communities, had troubles enough of their own to make them comparatively indifferent to those of their neighbors; and though all conceded that Ethan Frome's had been beyond the common measure, no one gave me an explanation of the look in his face which, as I persisted in thinking, neither poverty nor physical suffering could have put there." Early in the book the narrator concludes from looking at his face that Ethan's tragedy was more complex than a simple accident. The narrator knows that Ethan is miserable on an emotional level. This fascinates the narrator and drives him to research Frome. One of the townspeople

Zeena: Zeena Frome is a middle-aged hypochondriac and the wife of Ethan Frome. When she requires assistance for her "illnesses" she sends for her niece, Mattie Silver. Her husband, Ethan later falls in love with Mattie. Inadvertently, Zeena allows this to happen. "The doctor says it'll be my death if I go on slaving the way I've had to. He doesn't understand how I've stood it as long as I have." She becomes enthralled with her sickness. Zeena is preoccupied with her condition and does not notice Ethan and Mattie falling in love under the same roof. "Zeena laughed. It was an odd familiar sound-he did not remember ever having heard her laugh before. "You didn't suppose I was going to two girls, did you? No wonder you were scared at the expense!" Zeena is always concerned with medicines and so much so that she is willing to turn away her own niece to hire a servant girl. She even forgets to leave the spare key out for Ethan and Mattie one night, leaving them out in the cold. Zeena is for the most part a little selfish and neglecting. But these are miniscule mistakes when compared to Ethan and Mattie's secret love affair. The victim of the situation is somewhat obvious. Zeena is really a good wife who obeys her husband and had nothing but misguided intentions.

named Mrs. Hale is willing to talk about Frome to the narrator. She tells him of how Ethan fell in love with Mattie. In addition she tells him the little changes that happened to Ethan like shaving and caring more about his appearance, his first fight with Zeena, and his effervescent attitude about his desire to

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1063
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)