Ethan Frome: Naturalism’s “Scapegoat,” or Romantic Hero?

Edith Wharton’s novel Ethan Frome is usually but inaccurately classified as Naturalistic. Naturalistic works typically feature characters constrained by their environment, social circumstances, or personal struggles. This article rejects that characterization. Careful application of the naturalistic model indicates novel’s major elements setting, structure, characters, and theme do not fit model. Close reading careful analysis provide convincing evidence focus transformative power love. study hypothesizes such a places within Romantic genre. Further close characters’ other-worldly, idealized love leads to an outcome more tragic than death, these consequences represent love’s consummate triumph. The concludes therefore incorporates one highest values Western society, regularly embodied in its religions art.