Ethan Frome - Sequence of Events

Ethan Frome- Sequence of events

This is a story of Ethan Frome and his tragic life in Starkfield, Massachusetts. This story takes place during the wintertime. Early in the story Ethan's mother passes away. After this incident Ethan marries his cousin Zeena because he thinks that he cannot live on his own. Once the two are married they hire a helping hand named Mattie Sliver whom is also Zeena's cousin.

Ethan ends up realizing that he has no feelings for Zeena and that he is falling in love with Mattie. One night the Mattie and Ethan went to a dance while Zeena was out of town seeing a doctor. Ethan walked Mattie home and they ended up spending the whole night together in the house alone. The next morning when Zeena returned, Zeena suspected that a love affair had begun between the two of them. Because of this Zeena hires a new helping hand and fires Mattie but Ethan tries to stop her. As a result, Ethan and Mattie realized that they loved each other. They decided that they would run away together. Once they had left they realized that they could not marry because they didn't have enough money to support themselves. They decided that they could never marry and live together, that they want to die together. Mattie and Ethan try to commit suicide by sledding into an elm tree. After the "smash up" they regain consciousness, and they end up having to live an even harder life. The two resorted to this out of despair, loneliness, love, and their desire to share their love for one another.

After the," smash up" Zeena ended up taking care of the two until they reached old age. Now whenever Ethan goes into town everyone is scared of him because he looks depressed, and very old when he is no more than 52. As of now Ethan is in poverty for the most part he will do anything for money. In the town of Starkfield a horse disease has spread and the narrator needs a ride to work during a snow storm and he is willing to pay well. Ethan was mentioned for the job and he ends up getting it. Ethan transports the narrator to and from work .When the snow storm gets too bad Ethan offers the narrator a place to stay for the night. This expression of kindness puts in a good name for him in the town. And therefore his attitude has changed for the better. ...a new man has now emerged from the old Ethan Frome