Ethan Frome · Chapter
II explained
After the dance, Ethan Frome hides behind the storm-door and watches Mattie Silver exit the church.
What happens
After the dance, Ethan Frome hides behind the storm-door and watches Mattie Silver exit the church. He observes Denis Eady attempt to persuade Mattie to ride home with him, but she refuses and walks alone. Ethan catches up with her under the Varnum spruces, and they walk home together, sharing a tender moment. Upon arriving home, they find the kitchen key missing and are startled when Zeena opens the door, having waited up for them. Zeena's cold demeanor and the tension in the household are palpable as Ethan reluctantly follows her to bed.
Themes in this chapter
Isolation and Entrapment
Ethan feels trapped in his marriage and home, symbolized by the missing key and Zeena's oppressive presence.
Duty vs. Desire
Ethan's longing for Mattie conflicts with his duty to Zeena, as seen in his hesitation and the tension upon returning home.
Silence and Repression
Ethan suppresses his feelings for Mattie and avoids confrontation with Zeena, leading to unspoken tensions.
Characters to notice
- Ethan Frome
Hides behind the storm-door, watches Mattie, walks home with her, and faces Zeena's displeasure upon returning.
- Mattie Silver
Refuses Denis Eady's offer of a ride, walks home with Ethan, and is anxious about Zeena's reaction.
- Zeena Frome
Waits up for Ethan and Mattie, confronts them at the door, and shows resentment and control.
- Denis Eady
Attempts to persuade Mattie to ride home with him but is rejected.
- Mrs. Ned Hale
Mentioned as part of the engaged couple who nearly crashed into the elm while coasting.
- Ruth Varnum
Mentioned as part of the engaged couple who nearly crashed into the elm while coasting.
Key passages
“A dead cucumber-vine dangled from the porch like the crape streamer tied to the door for a death, and the thought flashed through Ethan’s brain: “If it was there for Zeena—””
A withered vine hanging from the porch reminded Ethan of a funeral decoration, and he briefly imagined it signifying Zeena's death.
This dark thought reveals Ethan's subconscious desire to be free from his marriage.
“To Ethan, still in the rosy haze of his hour with Mattie, the sight came with the intense precision of the last dream before waking. He felt as if he had never before known what his wife looked like.”
Seeing Zeena after his time with Mattie felt like a harsh awakening, making her seem unfamiliar and repulsive.
Highlights the contrast between Ethan's romantic idealization of Mattie and the grim reality of Zeena.
“The motions of her mind were as incalculable as the flit of a bird in the branches.”
Mattie's thoughts and moods were unpredictable and elusive, like a bird moving quickly among tree branches.
Ethan's perception of Mattie's capriciousness adds to his emotional turmoil.