Ethan Frome Critical Essay Blog

The essay I read for this assignment was, “The Two Faces of Mattie Silver” by Gary Scharnhorst. In this critical essay, Mr. Scharnhorst gives his opinion on what Mattie’s true intentions are throughout the novella Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton.

Scharnhorst comments on how other readers view the book as a simple, tragic love story, similar to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. However, he says that when Mattie Silver is analyzed and viewed from the perspective of a “temptress,” the story becomes completely different. From Scharnhorst’s perspective, Mattie Silver never actually loved Ethan Frome. Instead, it was all feigned emotions played by a desperate woman, heightened by the lovesick imaginations of her pursuer. “He was never so happy with her as when he abandoned himself to these dreams” (Wharton, 45).

To Scharnhorst, Mattie simply tried using Ethan to get what she wanted: To stay in Starkfield with a roof over her head. The essay’s author brings up the fact that Mattie only shows mock interest in Ethan when she feels that Zeena is displeased with her, and will ultimately remove her from their home. To back this claim, Scharnhorst uses some examples from the text, such as the passage found before Mattie suggests suicide to Ethan:

“‘Is this where Ned and Ruth kissed each other?’ she whispered breathlessly, and flung her arms about him. Her lips, groping for his, swept over his face, and he held her fast in a rapture of surprise" (Wharton, 178).

In my opinion, this argument was presented very well. The essay was organized, and there were plenty of points to back up the thesis that the author presented. Quite honestly, I do agree with Mr. Scharnhorst’s opinion. The evidence is written clearly throughout the novella. Even before reading this essay, I had had my questions of Mattie’s love for Ethan and if it was even true. After reading this essay, I can honestly say that I do not think that Ethan’s love reciprocated.