Alone in His Imperfection

A detailed Summary of Alone in His Imperfection

"These heroes were just like us - limited human beings" (Grana 29). Society often places heroes above the public and regards their characters as perfect; however, Janice Grana knows the truth, heroes have as many lacunas in their character as any other person. At times, these faults cause the hero to meet their demise. In Edith Wharton's novella, Ethan Frome, the protagonist, Ethan Frome, exhibits the qualities of a classical tragic hero, eventually meeting his ruin through hamartia. The use of these qualities evokes a sense of pity and foreboding in the audience.

Throughout this piece the reader sees Ethan as a broken man, one with few possessions and little happiness. Although Ethan has a despairing existence, he has earned the respect of his neighbors. This esteem gives him the high rank that evidences itself in the characteristics of all classical tragic heroes. He earns this respect, first, by attending "a technical college at Worcester" (Wharton 27). This noble attempt at escape from Starkfield requires much intelligence, determination, and opulence. These qualities alone separate him from most other citizens in his town. But the fact that he accomplished escaping from Starkfield, although only for a short time, s

eems of even greater value to his neighbors. The community agrees with Harmon Gow when he says "the smart ones get away" (9). The respect shown to Ethan by the community aids in instilling a feeling of foreboding in the reader because the reader sees that anyone may become a "ruin of a man" (3), no matter what socia!

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Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome. New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc., 1911.

As with all tragic heroes, Ethan meets his demise due to hamartia, his fear of loneliness. This fear causes the audience to pity Ethan, and to fear isolation, as well. This fear trickles into every aspect of Ethan's life, and changes each area drastically. Upon his parents' deaths, Ethan loses everyone that he cares about. He is "seized with an unreasoning dread of being left alone on the farm" (70), and without thought, he proposes marriage to Zeena. Ironically, this marriage does not preclude his loneliness, it only furthers it. Zeena's taciturnity makes Ethan feel as though he is all alone, and prevents him from ever finding another who will satisfy his need for companionship. Even when he does find deliverance in Mattie, his impulsive response to his fear of loneliness, keeps him from happiness. While Mattie lives with Ethan and Zeena, Ethan pines for her. He fears that she will never feel the same emotions toward him, though. He would rather spend his life alongside!

Ethan faces this new destiny with courage. Ethan and Mattie's decision to attempt at suicide fails, and Ethan must n

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Approximate Word count = 1054
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English