Ethan Frome Essay
Introduction
Zeena's behavior is uncovered through the sad memories of Ethan and other clues from various kinds of characters as outlined in the story. In spite of the fact that Zeena is not as rounded character as her husband, Ethan, the bad or negative aspects of her identity develop very clearly, and this makes Zeena appear as a villain throughout the story. Zeena is actually the casualty of Ethan's arrangements to submit into infidelity, and this is causes Ethan to feel trapped in his marriage to his irritable wife Zeena. Zeena’s unrealistic harshness towards both Mattie and Ethan is how she also relates to other characters in the novel Ethan Frome.
Zeena’s unrealistic harshness
Ethan had to make decisions that would affect the rest of his life from the day his father died. “His father’s death, and the misfortunes following it, had put a premature end to Ethan’s studies.”(33) He had to get his mother’s cousin Zeena to come live with them so she could take care of his ailing mother. “Zeena arrives in the village to help him to care for his mother.” (159) This is how the marriage of Zeena and Ethan came about. “When Zenobia Pierce helps him nurse his mother, he is impressed by her competence and grateful for her company. He asks her to marry him.”(159) Ethan was only 21 years of age when he wed Zeena, who was 28 years of age. At the beginning of their marriage, Ethan wanted to move away from the town of Starkfield, but Zeena was against the move to big city for fear of losing her identity. “Bored and bitter, she does not allow Ethan the freedom to leave.”(159) Not long after their marriage, Zeena developed her own ailments and needed in-home patient care, according to her doctors. “Twice or thrice before she had suddenly packed Ethan’s valise and started off to Bettsbridge, or even Springfield, to seek the advice of some new doctor, and her husband had grown to dread these expeditions because of their costs.”(56) These lavish visits of Zeena’s to her specialists took place during a time when Ethan was attempting to settle down a home-loan on their farm and at the same time keep up his budgetary duties. Since so much cash was being used by Zeena for all of her experimental medicines, there was a very slight chance that Zeena and Ethan could practically consider moving from Starkfield. Through all this time, Zeena gets to be an expert at using her ailments to control everything and everyone in her life. Her sickness is the motivation behind Mattie's escape and her place is taken by the housekeeper.
It is Zeena who recommended that her cousin Mattie Silver come and live with them as house maid. But the moment some attraction and fascination between Mattie and Ethan became noticeable, Zeena starts to accuse her cousin in an ill manner. Furthermore, Zeena is a tricky person to understand and is seen as an individual who is inhuman. According to Mrs. Ned Hale's comments, nobody knows Zeena's thoughts. In fact, Zeena organizes for Mattie's departure plus her replacement without even consulting her spouse, Ethan. The main emotional aspect Zeena demonstrates is when she finds the broken pickle dish hence breaking into cries. However, the moments she gets rid of Mattie, she gets back to her usual self-absorption. However, the biggest irony of the story is apparent when Zeena ends up taking care of Ethan and her rival Mattie.