Ethan Frome Edith Wharton was born Edith Jones, into an upper-class New York City family in Edith Wharton was born Edith Jones, into an upper-class New York City family in She received a marriage proposal at a young age, but her prospective in-laws ended the engagement because they felt the Jones family was too snobbish. Then, in 1885, after another broken engagement, Edith married Edward Wharton, an older man whom the Jones family found to be of a suitably lofty social rank.

According to Claudia Roth Pierpont of The New Yorker Magazine Wharton’s marriage was “a disaster: intellectually, emotionally, and above all sexually.” She writes that “after what seems to have been one or two attempts at grappling with their mysterious bodies, Teddy and Edith lived together in celibacy for twenty-eight years.” They finally divorced in 1913, when divorce became more socially acceptable According to Claudia Roth Pierpont of The New Yorker Magazine Wharton’s marriage was “a disaster: intellectually, emotionally, and above all sexually.” She writes that “after what seems to have been one or two attempts at grappling with their mysterious bodies, Teddy and Edith lived together in celibacy for twenty-eight years.” They finally divorced in 1913, when divorce became more socially acceptable

Wharton found temporary solace in her surreptitious affair with the journalist Morton Fullerton, which coincided with the collapse of her marriage. Wharton found temporary solace in her surreptitious affair with the journalist Morton Fullerton, which coincided with the collapse of her marriage. It was in the wake of this affair and her ensuing divorce that Wharton wrote many of her most successful and endearing works. It was in the wake of this affair and her ensuing divorce that Wharton wrote many of her most successful and endearing works.

Among such artists as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein, she became a close associate of the novelist Henry James, a fellow American of similarly intense and indecipherable moral sensibility Among such artists as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein, she became a close associate of the novelist Henry James, a fellow American of similarly intense and indecipherable moral sensibility

Ethan Frome (1911) is one of the few pieces of Wharton’s fiction that does not take place in an urban, upper-class setting. Ethan Frome (1911) is one of the few pieces of Wharton’s fiction that does not take place in an urban, upper-class setting. Interestingly, Wharton based the narrative of the novel on an accident that occurred in Lenox, Massachusetts, where she traveled extensively and had come into contact with one of the victims of the accident. Interestingly, Wharton based the narrative of the novel on an accident that occurred in Lenox, Massachusetts, where she traveled extensively and had come into contact with one of the victims of the accident.

Historical Context—Victorian Era In English literature, this was the period covered by the reign of Queen Victoria from In English literature, this was the period covered by the reign of Queen Victoria from With the industrialization of America came the development and expansion of railroads and isolated communities became accessible. With the industrialization of America came the development and expansion of railroads and isolated communities became accessible. Urban slums brought a rise in prostitution to an age that was sexually repressed. Pornography and erotic literature was also burgeoning (growing) at this time in history, yet society was outwardly prudish. For example, one could not say “leg” in public! Urban slums brought a rise in prostitution to an age that was sexually repressed. Pornography and erotic literature was also burgeoning (growing) at this time in history, yet society was outwardly prudish. For example, one could not say “leg” in public!

Realism & Naturalism as Literary Movements Realism is, in art and literature, a term covering a broad range of views centered on the attempt to depict life as it is usually experienced, without recourse to miraculous events, larger-than-life characters, or supernatural intervention.

In a realistic text, the emphasis is on the way things are for ordinary people, whose behavior and speech mirror their social position and cultural attitudes. In a realistic text, the emphasis is on the way things are for ordinary people, whose behavior and speech mirror their social position and cultural attitudes. In this sense, realism is opposed to romance, which represents life as we would like it to be, or to other anti-realist approaches such as expressionism and impressionism. In this sense, realism is opposed to romance, which represents life as we would like it to be, or to other anti-realist approaches such as expressionism and impressionism.

Naturalism Naturalism was a late 19 th century movement in literature and art that grew out of realism. Naturalism was a late 19 th century movement in literature and art that grew out of realism. The basic effort of naturalism lay in the attempt to produce a scientifically accurate depiction of life even at the cost of representing ugliness and discord. The basic effort of naturalism lay in the attempt to produce a scientifically accurate depiction of life even at the cost of representing ugliness and discord.

The motives and behaviors of characters are determined by heredity and environment. The motives and behaviors of characters are determined by heredity and environment. The artist’s task is to reveal the role of these factors in the lives of the characters The artist’s task is to reveal the role of these factors in the lives of the characters

The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Nina Baym, Ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Nina Baym, Ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Lathbury, Roger. Realism and Regionalism ( ): American literature in its historical, cultural, and social contexts. New York: Facts on File, Inc., Lathbury, Roger. Realism and Regionalism ( ): American literature in its historical, cultural, and social contexts. New York: Facts on File, Inc., Quinn, Edward. A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms. New York: Checkmark Books, 1999 Quinn, Edward. A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms. New York: Checkmark Books, 1999