In this fictional novel, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, it compares and contrasts two major characters: Zenobia (Zeena) Frome and Mattie Silver. The beginning of the book explains the pity marriage of Zeena and her husband, Ethan Frome. She was only his parent’s caretaker at the time and he did not want to be alone for the winter, therefore he married her. Zeena’s first cousin, Mattie Silver comes along to live with them and Ethan falls for her completely different personality than his wife. Zeena is told to be this older woman who has fallen sick. As said in chapter 1 by the narrator, “Her high-boned face taking a greyish tinge from the whiteness of the pillow.” This quote is explaining Zeena’s appearance along with other unpleasant details such as cruel lines on her face from illness, looking haggard, and even her voice sounds flat and sickly. Compared to Mattie, her entire look is near death whereas her cousin has this bright, fresh glow to her. Mattie is portrayed as this young, beautiful, and happy girl who dresses to impress. Almost as if she is the young Zeena, which is why Ethan falls for this spark of light she brings.…show more content… Mattie lives a life of risks due to her spontaneous sled rides, dancing and falling for her cousin's husband, and even keeping her social life up. On the other hand, Zeena is the complete opposite; she barely says a word, and when she does it is emotionless. Also, Zeena is constantly in bed sick or speaking negatively about life. Although Zeena and Mattie differ with their outlooks on life, they both just want to be loved. Ironically, in this book they want to be loved by the same man. Zeena does love Ethan however, her jealousy creates a depression. At the same time, Mattie finds herself in love with Ethan and picturing this beautiful life
