Question

Has anyone read "Ethan Frome"? It would help if you read it but it’s not essential. I’m beginning an essay about it. I don’t want anyone to do my homework for me. I just need feedback about the decisions I will be making.

Answer 1

This is probably going to be the thesis statement--

Edith Wharton’s novella, Ethan Frome, has several distinct elements in it similar to those found in a Greek Tragedy.

Answer 2

Nietzsche’s analysis of Apollonian and Dionysian tragedy

Friedrich Nietzsche at the end of the 19th century highlighted the contrast between the two main elements of tragedy: firstly, the Dionysian (the passion that overwhelms the character) and the Apollonian (the wisdom and justice that symbolized the rational element of the God Apollo). Contrasted with that is nemesis, the divine punishment that determines the fall or death of the character.

In ancient Greek culture, says Nietzsche, "there is a conflict between the plastic arts, namely the Apollonian, and non-plastic art of music, the Dionysian."

[...] These two instincts are so different they walk side by side, mostly in open conflict, stimolandosi each other to new and more stalwart reactions to perpetuate itself incessantly struggle of that conflict, which the common word "art" builds a bridge that is only apparent: until at last, gathered together by a metaphysical miracle produced by the "will" Hellenic, they appear in pairs and finally generate quest'accoppiamento in the work of art Attic tragedy, which is all the Apollonian as Dionysian.

— The Birth of Tragedy

Answer 3

For my purposes, the two sentences that stand out the most to me are these--

Dionysian (the passion that overwhelms the character) and the Apollonian (the wisdom and justice that symbolized the rational element of the God Apollo). Contrasted with that is nemesis, the divine punishment that determines the fall or death of the character.

Answer 4

@Kira_Yamato

Answer 5

@Callisto

Answer 6

Sorry I didn't read that novel... Plus I'm not very strong in Literature... I'm a science guy ^^

Answer 7

Okay. I understand.

Answer 8

@RoseDryer

Answer 9

@JakeTylerBarreto

Answer 10

Jake, just need to know if you're interested in this project.

Answer 11

If i should suggest something, unfold your thesis statement, It is a tad broad. :) And yes, I am interested.

Answer 12

I don't think it's broad. It's quite narrow. The similarities between "E.F." and Greek Tragedy doesn't seem too broad to me.

Answer 13

Well, as I said, it is just a suggestion. You do what you feel is necessary.

Answer 14

I have the outline in my head. I just need feedback as I work it out.

Answer 15

I am here to proofread whatever you shall present to me, I can give you alternatives and strengthen your outlines structuring.

Answer 16

Have you read Ethan Frome? Just need to know.

Answer 17

It's okay if you haven't.

Answer 18

No, sadly, I have not, but I can definitely help you, I will research the novel and study it through Sparknotes, so I will be able to help you.

Answer 19

Thanks. If you're interested in listening to it, I have the link to a free audio version. It's well read.

Answer 20

Sure, thank you.

Answer 21

https://archive.org/details/ethanfrome_bn_librivox

This will come in handy for other stories you might want to hear read. I sometimes listen to them when going to bed, when my eyes are shot.

Answer 22

Alright, thank you.

Answer 23

I will take as much time as i can listening to this, feel free to ask any questions. :)

Answer 24

Okay, thanks Jake. Can I call you Jake?

Answer 25

Sure thing.

Answer 26

K

Answer 27

@JakeTylerBarreto

How long will you be online? I'm not in any hurry with this project, so I'll be taking my time as I go through it.

Answer 28

I will be offline at 9:20, I will be available to help you after 2:00.

Answer 29

Okay. Sounds good.

Answer 30

Title and First Paragraph

"'Ethan Frome,' an American Greek Tragedy"

Edith Wharton’s novella, Ethan Frome, has several distinct elements in it similar to those found in a Greek Tragedy. The Introduction serves as a Prologue. The narrator, who doesn’t claim to be Ms. Wharton, leaves no doubt that the ensuing story is a tragic one. Ethan, who, when he leaves the confines of the house he shares with his wife Zeena and his niece Mattie, seems to go most often to the post office in Starkfield, Massachusetts. He’s a crippled-up shell of a man, living if not in a type of hellish existence, in one very much like a harsh Purgatory. The Introduction serves to garner our interest and attention and to lay the foundation for what is to follow, in this case about how the fates have set Ethan up to fall from Grace.

Answer 31

Second Paragraph

The first chapter begins the account of how the tragic love story unfolds. Ethan's wife, Zeena, is a sickly, cold, and distant spouse, grown old before her time. Mattie, Ethan's niece, is young, pretty, and full of life. Mattie has lived with the Fromes for a year. That Ethan would find his wife repulsive and his niece attractive is a moral conundrum, but not one outside the jurisdiction of relatively normal human weaknesses. It's clear that Ethan has developed an attraction for Mattie, but he's kept it hidden in the shadows. In deed, when we first meet him, he has gone to pick Mattie up from a dance, and we find him watching her from a distance, peering in at her from outside the building, in the dark.

Answer 32

@RoseDryer

Answer 33

Third Paragraph

As Nietzsche mentions in “The Birth of Tragedy,” there are three forces at work behind the scenes, the Dionysian, the Apollonian, and nemesis. The first force at play is “the passion that overwhelms the character,” while the second one is wisdom and justice, based on reason. The final one is nemesis, “the divine punishment that [inevitably] determines the fall or death of the character.” All of these forces are at work on Ethan Frome. Ethan is a good man, so he naturally wants to do the right thing and is thereby inclined to favor the Apollonian force. Yet, he’s also a man, and this is of course his greatest weakness and how the Dionysian force overcomes his better judgment. Once he crosses the line such that he is clearly within the clutches of the Dionysian forces, his fate is set, and it’s up to nemesis to determine his punishment—in this case a very harsh one.

Answer 34

@RoseDryer Whatcha think so far?

Answer 35

Sorry I am really terrible at English =/

Answer 36

That's why I invited you over here. Maybe you can take a look at how I'm doing it and, if not add your own thoughts, think about how I'm going about it--and ask any questions you might have.

Answer 37

What do you think about how this is going so far?

"'Ethan Frome,' an American Greek Tragedy"

Edith Wharton’s novella, Ethan Frome, has several distinct elements in it similar to those found in a Greek Tragedy. The Introduction serves as a Prologue. The narrator, who doesn’t claim to be Ms. Wharton, leaves no doubt that the ensuing story is a tragic one. Ethan, who, when he leaves the confines of the house he shares with his wife Zeena and his niece Mattie, seems to go most often to the post office in Starkfield, Massachusetts. He’s a crippled-up shell of a man, living if not in a type of hellish existence, in one very much like a harsh Purgatory. The Introduction serves to garner our interest and attention and to lay the foundation for what is to follow, in this case about how the fates have set Ethan up to fall from Grace.

The first chapter begins the account of how the tragic love story unfolds. Ethan's wife, Zeena, is a sickly, cold, and distant spouse, grown old before her time. Mattie, Ethan's niece, is young, pretty, and full of life. Mattie has lived with the Fromes for a year. That Ethan would find his wife repulsive and his niece attractive is a moral conundrum, but not one outside the jurisdiction of relatively normal human weaknesses. It's clear that Ethan has developed an attraction for Mattie, but he's kept it hidden in the shadows. Indeed, when we first meet him, he has gone to pick Mattie up from a dance, and we find him watching her from a distance, peering in at her from outside the building, in the dark.

As Nietzsche mentions in “The Birth of Tragedy,” there are three forces at work behind the scenes, the Dionysian, the Apollonian, and nemesis. The first force at play is “the passion that overwhelms the character,” while the second one is wisdom and justice, based on reason. The final one is nemesis, “the divine punishment that [inevitably] determines the fall or death of the character.” All of these forces are at work on Ethan Frome. Ethan is a good man, so he naturally wants to do the right thing and is thereby inclined to favor the Apollonian force. Yet, he’s also a man, and this is of course his greatest weakness and how the Dionysian force overcomes his better judgment. Once he crosses the line such that he is clearly within the clutches of the Dionysian forces, his fate is set, and it’s up to nemesis to determine his punishment—in this case a very harsh one.

Answer 38

Donald, this is very exceptional work, fantastic job and keep going! This is one of few papers in which I find it hard to correct. You're very thorough with your point, your grammar/punctuation is stellar to most people, and the information is well organized. 10/10 so far.