Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton tells the story of a young Ethan Frome, who lives in the snowy and drab town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. He leads a complicated life, as he struggles to choose between a seemingly unattractive wife and a lusty cousin-in-law. Ethan is simply tormented by various internal conflicts, in which his characteristics and lifestyle, friends, family and environment play a role in his personal unhappiness. Ethan Frome, the story's protagonist, is a farmer who has had his family members live and die on the same farm in Starkfield for generations. Ethan is described as a rather sensitive figure, with a deep appreciation of nature. He always seems to be on the move, shifting and trying to get free – just with “the cloud in his brain”. In this novel, Ethan lives with his sick wife, Zeena. Additionally, Mattie Silver, Zeena's cousin, has also been living with them for over a year as a housekeeper. As the story progresses, the reader soon realizes the misery Ethan faces. Zeena, which is short for Ze...