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Ethan Frome - Jstor CHAPTER 2 - Coggle Diagram
Ethan Frome - Jstor CHAPTER 2
2.1 WHERE'D I GO IF I DID [LEAVE]
NARRATOR - Visiting engineer
Forced to take shelter from the blizzard
Once in their house, he naturally takes Ethans side
Whartons unreliable, anonymus male narrator
Encounters Ethan at the post office
Ethan
physical deformity due to an accident that left him lame 24 years ago
Zeena nor Mattie are centres of interest
Excluded in narration = indirect criticism of female confinement
Zeena offered Mattie to live on the farm as a indentured servent in exchange of food and a roof
Mattie expected to marry the grocers soon as he is presented as the most promising suitor (Dennis Eady)
Ethan does not like Dennis Eady as he believes that him and Mattie ar eflirting
Ethan wants reassurance that Mattie will not marry Eady
Mattie is attracted to a married man who is the husband of her cousin
Zeena makes clear that she has realised that ever since Mattie is living with thim her husband has been shaving every day and neglecting the mill
2.2 I WOULDN'T EVER...LIKE DENIS EADY
Wharton critiques social limitation and expectations of women
Mattie
Her father - moved to Connecticut and married a Stanford girl - he succeeded her fathers drug business
Made everyone believe that he was a very succesfull businessman
He passed away and so did her mother - orphan at the age of 20
Her fathers clandestine dealing caused her to be addicted to painkillers + patent medicine (she turned invalid after her suicide attempt with Ethan
Male narrator mentions that her relatives punished her by giving her no financial aid
2.3 THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS...TO ME STILL
Zeena started to find oblique ways to show Matties innefficiency
Ethan is fully aware that Zeenas complaints are not wrong
Mattie is constantly supported by Ethan
Zeena realizes Ethan has been completing all of Matties chores - therefore she becomes more vocal in her dissatisfaction with her
Matties life accomplishments are intended to charm a husband, not an employer or to maintain a household
Ethan associates her fragile and vulnerable self to those of birds
The fact that Ethan sees her as a bird and birds fly, can be seen as an association to freedom and independence
Something Ethan has been yearning
Mattie seems to be a symbol of freedom for Ethan
To Ethan Mattie does not complain such as his wofe does
Ever since Mattie arrived, Ethan thinks she got prettier and healthier
2.4 I GUESS WE'LL NEVER LET YOU GO MATT
Mattie associated with imagery of summer and nature
Her surname implies feminine energy
She attracts Ethan Frome and Dennis Eady
Ethan here reveals that he had been hiding when she was talking to Dennis
The colour red on Mattie is described as a young attractive women who arouses passion
Matties attractivenes and sparkling presence stands out in the dark and cold scenery of Starkfield
The triangle has already been esblished and a strcuture and destiny has been formed - foreshadowing the entrapment of all three on the farm
Ethan fantasises about an evening alone with Mattie
Mattie appears radiant to him
When Ethan sees Mattie at the kitchen door it seems to kindle his lust and pasion for Mattie
They declare their love at Shadow pond before the sledding accident
2.5 OH, ETHAN... ZEENA SAY?
Mattie admires Ethan
Matties extra effort is to show her love and passion
Mattie helps Ethan fulfill contemporary gender roles making him feel more manly and strong
To brake the pickle dish - cat leaps from chair to table and knocks it off the table
Mattie starts crying immediately on the floor
Ethan removes it picks it up and has intentions of fixing it with glue and then finding a replacement - doesnt have tome as Zeena arrives before
He is unable to come up with an excuse
Zeena learns that her most treasured wedding gift that she had purpously moved so Mattie wouldnt touch it has been used by her
Feels betrayed by Mattie
Ethan likes Mattie due to her submissivenesses she has to him
Zeena mentions to Ethan that she wants to replace Mattie - Ethan tries to shame Zeena
After Zeena leaves with broken dish narrative only focuses on Ethan
Ethan struggles between his desire for Mattie and his sense of duty towards his wife
2.6 ETHAN...GET ALONG ALONE
Reader only follows Ethan
Presented as a lifelong prisoner who struggles with his bonds
He is a poor man husband to a 'sickly' woman
Fighting an inner battle with what he feels in order to be happy and what he feels he must do in order to appease his family and society
Not described as a heroic figure
Never recognizes his own lack of courage
Mattie has nowhere to go if she leaves the farm
Mattie suggests a suicide pact as she cant live without him
Attempy by sliding off icy hill
He was sat in front of the sled having her at the back holding on made him feel masculine as if he was protecting her
Failed suicide attempt shows lack of control of their destines
Mattie is now paralyzed - she will spend the rest of her life being cared for by Zeena
Suicide attempt has converted Mattie into a second Zeena as now all she does is complain
Ethan is the cause of his own tragedy
2.7 I THOUGHT...WAKE HER UP
Mattie has become a hated woman
She assumes the permanently dependant state
Now mattie is also demonized by the narrator
Her pain has transformed her into an old women before her time
Wharton is parodying the binary opposition of the angels and devils in Victorian novels
Wharton is criticising conservative New England villages
Criticises expectations and limitations of the American society on young women