In almost any novel there is at least one character that comes out the strongest in the end. They prove their strong in various ways including, what decisions they make, how they interact with other characters and how others react to them. Being strong does not make a character a positive influence or a negative one. And a strong character does not always have to be physically strong but can be mentally strong instead, in Ethan Frome, Zeena proved herself as the strongest character. Despite being sickly, Zeena displayed more traits of a strong protagonist than Ethan and Mattie.
Zeena showed a sense of strong mentality compared to Ethan and Mattie. Zeena refuses to be persuaded by Ethan to keep Mattie as Zeena aid. She is calm and “obstinately” says that she wants to discuss the situation. And although Zeena is sick, she tries to find a solution to her illness. But, Ethan is
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In the beginning of the novel, Zeena was portrayed as a sickly woman who depended on others, although this was true, she developed throughout the story, which Ethan and Mattie did not do. At the end Zeena took care of Ethan and Mattie because she “had the strength given her to care for those two for over twenty years”. By herself, Zeena got over her sickness to care for Ethan and Mattie, after such a big task was thrown at her she overcame the struggle and continued to care for them. She changed her personality from dependent and cold to an independent woman who helped the ones she cared about. Ethan and Mattie did not choose to change to better themselves like Zeena did, instead they stayed insecure and selfish and made irrational decisions. Ethan was stuck on being passive with Mattie and in the end this hurt them. Zeena transitioned into a dynamic character that would end up being the strongest out of all of