Quotes
"Guess [Ethan's] been in Starkfield too many winters."
-Harmon Gow
This quote by Harmon Gow, the former stage-driver and town gossip, is in response to a comment by the narrator concerning Ethan's appearance. It is a believe notion around the community that Starkfield winters suck the life out of it's residents. The cold, harsh weather is overbearing and treacherous. With it comes the sense of depression and bad memories. Ethan Frome has endured too many winters in Starkfield and the residents think it has taken its toll on him.
"[Ethan] had often thought that since that it would not have happened if his mother had died in the spring instead of winter..."
This quote describes Ethan's feelings about marrying Zeena. We begin to get a look into him and how he truly does not love her. After his mother died, Ethan was all alone in the farm house with just Zeena. It was winter and the harsh Starkfield syndrome of depression and loneliness during the winter months was plaguing Ethan. To avoid being alone, he asked Zeena to stay and then he married her. Had it been spring, when the weather was mild and the flowers were blooming, Ethan would have never felt the need for some to stay and cater to his loneliness. But, Ethan's misfortune with Starkfield winters began the very year when he asked Zeena to stay.
"Ethan stood looking at [Mattie], his heart in his throat. He wanted to say, 'We shall never be alone again like this.'"
A reoccurring theme throughout the novel is that Ethan can never bring himself to say that things he truly feels to Mattie until the very end when it is to late. What is important to remember is that most of the story is Ethan's inner thoughts. We can never really tell until the very end what Mattie is thinking in these same moments. This thought of not knowing haunts Ethan and is why he can never bring himself to say these things.
"With a sudden perception of the point to which [Ethan's] madness had carried him, the madness fell and he saw his life before him as it was. He was a poor man, the husband of a sickly woman, whom his desertion would leave alone and destitute; and even if he had had the heart to desert her he could have done so only by deceiving two kindly people who had pitied him. He turned and walked slowly back to the farm."
Ethan throughout the story exhibits his pride and honesty. In the scene which the quote is from, he is considering taking advantage of the Hale's who have offered their sympathy to Ethan having to care for his sickly wife. He believes he can get fifty dollars from Mr. Hale to run away with Mattie. He thinks that since that Mr. Hale feels bad for Ethan, he will take pity on him and give him the money. But, Ethan's pride is what ultimately succeeds in this situation as he realizes his intentions are wrong and just walks home.
"I don't see there's much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard; 'cept that down there they're all quiet, and the women have got to hold their tongues."
-Mrs. Ruth Hale
This quote is the last line in the book. These significant quotes spoken by Ruth Hale, the character in the book that knows the Fromes better than anyone else in Starkfield, sheds light the Fromes fate. They live up on an isolated farm, away from everyone, and their existence is almost like death. Ethan and Mattie are both horribly crippled and Zeena is stuck taking care of them. Ruth says that the only difference between the dead Fromes and the Fromes that are alive is that the dead ones don't talk and complain all day. Besides that, they are living dead lives.
-Harmon Gow
This quote by Harmon Gow, the former stage-driver and town gossip, is in response to a comment by the narrator concerning Ethan's appearance. It is a believe notion around the community that Starkfield winters suck the life out of it's residents. The cold, harsh weather is overbearing and treacherous. With it comes the sense of depression and bad memories. Ethan Frome has endured too many winters in Starkfield and the residents think it has taken its toll on him.
"[Ethan] had often thought that since that it would not have happened if his mother had died in the spring instead of winter..."
This quote describes Ethan's feelings about marrying Zeena. We begin to get a look into him and how he truly does not love her. After his mother died, Ethan was all alone in the farm house with just Zeena. It was winter and the harsh Starkfield syndrome of depression and loneliness during the winter months was plaguing Ethan. To avoid being alone, he asked Zeena to stay and then he married her. Had it been spring, when the weather was mild and the flowers were blooming, Ethan would have never felt the need for some to stay and cater to his loneliness. But, Ethan's misfortune with Starkfield winters began the very year when he asked Zeena to stay.
"Ethan stood looking at [Mattie], his heart in his throat. He wanted to say, 'We shall never be alone again like this.'"
A reoccurring theme throughout the novel is that Ethan can never bring himself to say that things he truly feels to Mattie until the very end when it is to late. What is important to remember is that most of the story is Ethan's inner thoughts. We can never really tell until the very end what Mattie is thinking in these same moments. This thought of not knowing haunts Ethan and is why he can never bring himself to say these things.
"With a sudden perception of the point to which [Ethan's] madness had carried him, the madness fell and he saw his life before him as it was. He was a poor man, the husband of a sickly woman, whom his desertion would leave alone and destitute; and even if he had had the heart to desert her he could have done so only by deceiving two kindly people who had pitied him. He turned and walked slowly back to the farm."
Ethan throughout the story exhibits his pride and honesty. In the scene which the quote is from, he is considering taking advantage of the Hale's who have offered their sympathy to Ethan having to care for his sickly wife. He believes he can get fifty dollars from Mr. Hale to run away with Mattie. He thinks that since that Mr. Hale feels bad for Ethan, he will take pity on him and give him the money. But, Ethan's pride is what ultimately succeeds in this situation as he realizes his intentions are wrong and just walks home.
"I don't see there's much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard; 'cept that down there they're all quiet, and the women have got to hold their tongues."
-Mrs. Ruth Hale
This quote is the last line in the book. These significant quotes spoken by Ruth Hale, the character in the book that knows the Fromes better than anyone else in Starkfield, sheds light the Fromes fate. They live up on an isolated farm, away from everyone, and their existence is almost like death. Ethan and Mattie are both horribly crippled and Zeena is stuck taking care of them. Ruth says that the only difference between the dead Fromes and the Fromes that are alive is that the dead ones don't talk and complain all day. Besides that, they are living dead lives.