Life has a lot to do with ones perspective on it. It is every person's perspective on life that determines how he or she handle every given situation. Ethan Frome, the main character in the novel entitled Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, has many complex problems occurring at the same time. His parents have died, his wife is continually sick, and the only form of happiness he has is from his wife's cousin Mattie. This, at times proves to be hard because of Ethan's wife's interference. Nothing seems to be going in Ethan's favor. Ethan, who is never sure what exactly his direction should be, makes unfulfilled decisions that ultimately make him miserable as he sees it.

It is the tragedy of Ethan Frome that these ill-fated lovers, Ethan and Mattie, are reduced to something bleak and unapproachable. A couple who are refused their chance of happiness because of the

them. In its cunning cruelty the cat becomes a perfect representative of its mistress, a watchful surrogate for Zeena, "the cat jumped into Zeena's chair ... and lay watching them with narrowed eyes." The warmth of the evening is brought to an abrupt end by the accidental breaking of Zeena's treasured pickle dish, which in itself is a trivial incident, blown out of proportion because of their fear of the consequence. In the same way that society's restrictions depend on fear of the consequences from deviating from the accepted "norm."

Throughout the novel we see the relationship and the blossoming of tender emotions develop, we feel that the characters ought to fulfil their passion and we resent their reluctance to face the consequences that go hand in hand with their feelings. The scene where Zeena leaves town is perhaps the most provoking scene of the novel, as Wharton drives home the social and psychological restrictions that stop the two lovers from being together - even when they are alone. Ethan deludes himself, forgetting momentarily his entrapping circumstances, as he imagines himself married to Mattie. Wharton encourages readers to feel a solid approbation for the relationship, as the excitement and anticipation for the night ahead grows. The couple soon begins to feel the eerie presence of Zeena. The very kitchen which the night before had seemed like " a chilly vault" is described as warm and bright and had a distinctly homelike appearance, yet when Zeena was mentioned, it threw a chill between!

Ethan Frome lives trapped by the social expectations, which were placed upon him seemingly since the time of his birth. Wharton openly implores us to admire Ethan's endurance of his unfortunate life, as she paints a compassionate picture of him with a look in his face that neither poverty nor physical suffering could have put there. We are led to feel pity for the man who, as a last resort

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ethan Mattie, Ethan Frome, Mattie Wharton, Mattie Running, , Edith Wharton, Ethan Ethan, August Ethan, Ethan Mattie's, ethan mattie, ethan frome, lovers ethan, running mattie, suicide attempt, chance happiness, pickle dish, living life, ultimately miserable, ironic twist,
Approximate Word count = 1288
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)