Ethan Frome: An American America is popularly considered as the land of the free and the home of the brave. Its reputation necessarily implies that Americans are free and brave — ergo, they understand what they want in life and they try their best to reach their goals. Having the freedom to choose, however, is not without responsibilities. It is precisely this freedom that compels people to accept the consequences of their choices and actions whatever they may be in the end. In a way, Americans, like most other people, are free to choose the way they want to live their life but are not free to choose the consequences. This is where responsibility comes in. In America where freedom is the foundation of its democratic society, it takes a certain amount of bravery to deal with the consequences of one’s actions, especially if the results are not those that one expects to have. The character of Ethan Frome in the novel of the same name by Edith Wharton epitomizes what an American is. To be uniquely American is to be able to stick to one’s ambitions, desires, or passions …show more content…
One reason is that he stuck to his desires despite the odds. Specifically, Ethan did not give up on Mattie even after they both became paralyzed after they failed to elope. He did not abandon Mattie even if he was already married to Zeena. In fact, he continued to support Mattie even after he became Zeena’s husband. Despite his physical limitations, he still tries to make a living to support Mattie and, presumably, Zeena. In other words, Ethan’s situation highlights his indefatigable spirit. Society, it seems, cannot drag him down even with its restraints. While diversity in America is the source of the country’s strength, it can also be its weakness precisely because the pluralism it entails can make undecided individuals lose sight of their desires (Berbrier). However, Ethan’s being ‘different’ did not make him abandon his