FREE ESSAY ON EDITH WHARTON+KATE CHOPIN

EDITH WHARTON+KATE CHOPIN

American Lit. II 
Paper 2 2-17-2K
The main characters depicted in both Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome and Kate Chopin's The
Awakening undergo a personal struggle in their attempt to deal with the universal emotion
of love. Ethan Frome and Edna Pontellier each are married, but in love with another
person. During the time in which the stories take place it is socially unacceptable for
them to divorce or have an affair; and both characters are aware of the views of society.

Ethan and Edna are in situations that do not please them, and have an inner need or
desire to be with someone else. Ethan Frome falls in love with his young servant, who is
also his wife's cousin. Edna Pontellier is infatuated with a man she met while
vacationing, Robert Lebrun. Because of marriage they are unable to openly pursue the
objects of their affection. The desire of their hearts leads them both to secretly
maintain relationships outside their marriage, and ultimately causes their demise. 
Of the two, Edna is more accepting of her amorous feelings and leaves her husband, moving
out of his house. Although she was fond of her husband in the beginning of their
marriage, she felt unaccountable satisfaction that no trace of passion or excessive and
fictitious warmth colored her affection. She also shows little regard for her children,
for she would sometimes gather them passionately to her heart; she would sometimes forget
them. She does not feel any sense of duty or responsibility to her family, and is not
even faithful to her love for Robert Lebrun because she has a sexual relationship with
Alcee Arobin. Edna also shuns the society that looks upon her actions disapprovingly,
refusing to entertain callers. 
Edna immerses herself in dreaming of Robert; the thought of him was like an
obsession...his existence dominated her thought. Her closest companion, Mademoiselle
Reisz, encourages and assists her in her affair with Lebrun. The pianist strengthens
Edna's feelings of love towards Robert by telling Edna of his love for her, increasing
her resolve and determination to be with him. Eventually, when Robert refuses a
relationship with her and leaves, Edna is so distraught that she commits suicide by
drowning herself at the very place that Robert taught her to swim.
Ethan Frome is afflicted with the same type of feelings as Edna, but he is in a different
situation, mainly financial. Frome contemplates running away and starting a new life with
his lover, Mattie Silver, but lacks the monetary funds necessary to purchase train
tickets. He also feels a sense of responsibility to his wife, and doesn't want to leave
her destitute. His wife would not be able to manage their farm by herself; and even
though Frome feels no love for his wife, he realizes that she could never carry such a
burden alone. Ethan's infatuation with Mattie is very strong, and he feels jealousy when
he sees her with Denis Eady. He too becomes obsessed with his extra-marital relationship,
All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver. Ethan has no help in his
quest to win the heart of Mattie; he cannot even get an advance payment from the sawmill
owner to finance an escape with her. He refuses to lie in order to get the money that
would enable him to get away, because he would then be deceiving the people or the
society that pitied him and his situation with his wife. When Mattie is finally forced to
leave by Frome's wife Zeena, Mattie and Ethan are so disheartened that they attempt to
commit suicide by sledding themselves into a tree.
Because of her financial independence and absence of regard for her husband, Edna was
more successful in her affair. Ethan's lack of money and his sense of responsibility to
care for his wife hindered him. Each was cursed with manipulative spouses, but only Edna
stood up for herself and disobeyed her husband. Ethan was forced against his will to send
Mattie away by his sick wife. Although their romantic affairs were secretive, Ethan and
Edna each had a relationship with their lover that was visible to their husband or wife.
Both were committed to heeding the voice of their heart, but Edna's heart had a multiple
personality. Obsession and infatuation plagued both Ethan and Edna, who felt the power of
love so strongly that they were unwilling to live without it.