Ethan Frome: Characters

Ethan Frome – The protagonist of the novel and its tragic hero, Ethan is 28 years old in the main narrative and 52 years old in the frame story. According to the Narrator, he is a tall striking figure, despite being “a ruin of a man,” an allusion both to the crippling injury and the disappointments he has suffered. Circumstances are partly responsible for Ethan’s troubles, but his failure to act decisively in his own interest contributes to the unhappy condition of all three of the major characters by the end of the novel. Sensitive to natural beauty and intellectually curious, Ethan finds in Mattie a companion who appreciates his learning and respects his authority.

Zenobia (Zeena) Frome – Ethan’s wife, who is 35 at the time of the main narrative, is described as “already an old woman,” with false teeth, wrinkles, a skeletal physique, and a sallow complexion. Ethan was dazzled by her efficiency when she came to nurse his mother, and marries her in order to avoid being left alone after his mother died. He realizes his mistake When Zeena is afflicted by illness and pain that thwart his hopes of moving to a bigger town. Though Ethan suspects that Zeena’s illnesses are faked, his sense of duty forces him to take care of Zeena, and she uses her illness to manipulate and control Ethan. The behavior of Zeena’s cat implies that Zeena has certain witch-like powers, though this is probably the Narrator’s attempt to convey the power she has gained over Ethan and Mattie.

Mattie Silver – Zeena’s vivacious 21-year-old cousin, who comes to live with the Fromes when her parents die and leave her penniless. With no education or job skills, Mattie is forced to rely on the charity of her relatives, performing menial work in return for room and board. Her only hope of escape lies in attracting a suitor who will marry her and remove her from the Frome household, so her infatuation with Ethan is reckless, endangering her employment and her future. Mattie’s red scarf and red ribbon symbolize her passionate nature.

The Narrator – An engineer who is temporarily residing in Starkfield while assigned to work at a nearby power plant, and who is sympathetic to Ethan’s troubles. Wharton’s use of a narrator who is an outsider in the community contributes to the suspense of the tale, as the narrator tries to reconstruct the tragedy from a few direct observations and details provided by Mrs. Ned Hale and Harmon Gow. Wharton also intended the narrator to serve as a bridge between her “simple” characters and the sophisticated readers who were the audience for her novels.

Mrs. Ned Hale (Ruth Varnum) – As a young woman, a close friend of Mattie’s. In the frame story, she is the Narrator’s landlady. Initially reluctant to reveal what she knows about the tragedy, she is nonetheless the source of many important details, and confirms the Narrator’s story.

Harmon Gow – A former stagecoach driver. He’s the first to provide information about Ethan to the Narrator, and it is he who suggests that the narrator hire Ethan as a driver.

Denis Eady – An arrogant young man, the son of Michael Eady, a wealthy Starkfield grocer. Until Ethan learns the true nature of Mattie’s feelings, he feels inferior to Denis and threatened by Denis’s romantic pursuit of Mattie.

Jotham Powell – A hired man at the Frome farm. A quiet fellow who follows Zeena‘s orders to get rid of Mattie.

Andrew Hale – A Starkfield builder who buys lumber from Ethan. He has a reputation for never paying until three months after delivery.

Mrs. Andrew Hale – Andrew Hale’s wife and Ned Hale’s mother. A kindly, sympathetic woman.

Ned Hale – Ruth Varnum’s fiancé and later her husband, and son of Andrew and Mrs. Andrew Hale. He has died by the time the Narrator comes to Starkfield.

Aunt Martha Pierce – Zeena’s relative, whom she goes to stay with in Bettsbridge.

Old Mrs. Varnum – Ruth’s mother and the wife of Lawyer Varnum. She appears only in the frame story.

Michael Eady – A rich Starkfield grocer. Denis Eady’s father.

Mrs. Homan – Owner of a grocery store, where Ethan buys glue to fix the broken pickle-dish.