The Theme of Isolation in Wharton's "Ethan Frome"

Paper Summary:

The theme of isolation winds its way through the entirety of Edith Wharton's novel "Ethan Frome". The paper shows that from the name of the old farmhouse where Ethan resides, to the desperation to leave said isolation, the reader is able to see the impact that seclusion has on the characters of "Ethan Frome".

From the Paper:

"As the reader begins to develop this sense of isolation in the novel, they also begin to see certain events that keep these characters from breaking out of the inevitable seclusion. It seems as thought Ethan sacrifices his freedom as a result of his fear of isolation, which creates a unrelenting and vicious cycle of bleak events. For example, chapter 8 opens with a description of Ethan's cold and barren room. He once did have warmth in the room, but felt it necessary to give the stove which kept his room liveable to Mattie when she came to visit. As a result, Ethan was forced to live in the unbearable cold, which the narrator described as "uninhabitable for several months out of the year" (66)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome and Summer. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

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