The novel starts with the narrator describing who Ethan Frome is. The narrator is never acknowledged but he starts of by being in Starkfield, a small village during the winter. The narrator wants to learn more about a local man named Ethan Frome, and the unfortunate event that happened over twenty years earlier. Because the train the narrator takes to work stops functioning, Ethan offers him a ride. The narrator asks the locals questions about Ethan Frome and what happened during the incident. One night when Frome is giving the narrator a ride back, a horrible storm passes, leading Ethan to invite the narrator to stay in his home for the night. After this incident, the story switched from first person to third person and goes back in time, …show more content…
Mattie does house work at the Frome’s home, and also cares for Zeena who is very ill. Ethan becomes jealous while watching Mattie and Denis Eady dance together. He even eavesdrops on their conversation, hearing Mattie refuse Denis’s offer of a ride home and begins to walk home on her own. Ethan catches up with Mattie, and they walk home together. Their relationship and feelings begin to grow but it never goes past a kiss or an embrace. Zeena becomes suspicious of Ethan and Mattie’s relationship. She planned to replace Mattie with a new and more capable girl. Ethan became furious of the idea that Mattie might leave the house forever, he tells her of Zeena’s plan and then plants her with a kiss. One night, when Zeena arrives home she discovers her broken pickle dish while searching for medicine. She grows even more determined to get rid of Mattie. Ethan considers eloping with Mattie, but soon dismisses the idea. The next day, Ethan decides to bring Mattie to the station himself. On their way to the station, they stop to for a sleigh ride down the hill. The first ride is done without any incident, but then Mattie insists that they go down