Brittany's Book Corner

“Ethan Frome” by Edith Wharton

As an English major, I feel as though it is my obligation to occasionally read a classic or at least a work written by a classic author. For this week’s review, I have decided to do exactly that: “Ethan Frome” is a novella by Edith Wharton. It is well-known to an extent, but I had never heard of it while looking for a suitable audiobook on YouTube.

I had, however, heard of Wharton’s other novels, particularly “The Age of Innocence,” and I decided now would be as good a time as any to begin partaking in her body of work.

“Ethan Frome” follows Ethan Frome (obviously) and his struggles in a loveless marriage as he falls in love with his wife’s cousin. It is bookended by retrospective narration in the beginning and end, which I never really like; I feel as though the actual meat of the plot should be able to stand by itself, without the troubles and morals being described to the audience in hindsight.

Nevertheless, I think it actually works here – Wharton establishes Ethan as an interesting enough character to follow for the entirety of the novella, and the tragic end to his story needs to be revisited in the decades following to really appreciate the gravity of it.

Moving past the story’s structure, though, I must say this: “Ethan Frome” may be the most depressing book I have ever read. No one is happy in the town of Starkfield, the novella’s setting that is proven to be isolated, destitute and barren.

Just like reality, the plot is laced with occasional moments of intimacy between characters and sparks of excitement, but it is always almost immediately disturbed by Ethan’s internal monologue. Every instance of hope or happiness for the characters is cut off instantly by the return to the reality of their situation or opportunities.

This leads me to a question: If “Ethan Frome” is not a pleasant read, what exactly does it offer its readers? Honestly, I can’t really see anything of substance here. I have heard great things about Wharton’s other works, but the supposed magnificence of her writing is not on display here. It is wordy and, at times, difficult to understand, which makes it difficult to fully appreciate the supposed importance of Ethan’s life of “moral isolation too remote for casual access.” To put it bluntly, “Ethan Frome” is a slog and not one that I can defend for its literary display.

This is not to say you shouldn’t read “Ethan Frome.” I think that, with a few exceptions, books that can be read should be read. It is good for us to read books that we dislike – it improves empathy and gives us a more comprehensive understanding of literature.

However, I cannot recommend “Ethan Frome” to anyone who is not interested in the bleakness of life and how it coincides with a “Romeo and Juliet”-style affair. I would not discount Wharton as a whole just yet, though. She is a definitive American author that I will definitely be reading more of, if only because Barnes & Noble have her under their “classics.”