Zeena in Ethan Frome Essay -- Edith Wharton

Ethan FromeIn the story Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, Ethans wife Zeena plays an important component in the novel. Zeena changes Ethan through their marriage, and her illness. It is interesting when we find out that Zeena is actually Ethans cousin. It is questionable whether Zeena is sick or not. She often appears to be a hypochondriac. In the novel the narrator states that Zeena, shes always been the greatest hand at doctoring in the county (5). If Zeena had the greatest hand at doctoring, she would be able to help take dish out of herself and at the same time help others.In the beginning of the novel we learn how Ethan found Zeena. It was only when she drew toward her last illness, and his cousin Zenobia Pierce came everywhere from the next valley to help him nurse her, that human speech was heard again in the house. After the mortal silence of his long imprisonment Zeenas volubility was music in his ears. He felt that he might have gone like his mother if the sound of a new phonate had not come to steady him (29). Zeena brought Ethan color to his life. She made him more socia...