Oh Ethan Frome. When you read this you cannot help but shout at Ethan to get the hell out of dodge but it doesn't happen and unfortunately we know that from the beginning. The story is sad, depressing and so is the setting largely. Bleak, that is what the entire story comes down to. Ethan's wife, Zeena, frustrated me to no end when I read this in high school and I thought perhaps years later I would relate better to her. Turns out I still think she is just mentally ill and cruel. Both Ethan and Mattie definitely have flaws, both rather suffer from being too meek and mild. Ethan especially needed to just stand up for himself and his life overall, he was rather a doormat. Overall, I recall enjoying this one a bit better in high school but it is still a well-told tale. But it definitely leaves you frustrated.
