Ethan Frome cannot possibly be a fully developed character
in the novella, Ethan Frome as he is not a fully developed man. Thwarted in every
direction by his dominating wife, Zena, whose shadow is everywhere, no more so then when
she is not physically present and Mattie and Ethan cannot even bring themselves to look
at her chair nor the cat for they both seem to have her
eyes.
Ethan might have a history, as n12 says. He is indeed
the protagonist, and he is sensitive and mythical and deep however he is certainly not
complete. For he is missing his masculinity which has been so ruthlessly stripped from
him by his wife and is also missing the gentle sweetness of love through which he feels
he will find satisfaction. His attempts to find this with Mattie further his character
as a broken man, bringing it into the physical world. However, a complete character is
one who is whole and textered and perhaps, fulfilled which are all qualities which
Wharton has not bestowed upon Ethan.
One might compare
Ethan Frome to a background actor, one who is always there, but never evident. His
family have lived on the same farm for generations - and died there. There is no
progress, no boastings, no strength. Just weakness, and to be a weak protagonist is to
be undeveloped. We never do discover Ethan's full strength which is part of what makes
Edith Wharton's story so magical.
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