Why was Ethan Frome a strong person (character) ?
Ethan is strong in that he endures such misery and deprivation for so long without losing his mind or violating his own moral principles. Ethan is strong in that he denies his own emotional and intellectual needs and puts aside his own dreams to take care of others at his personal expense. And he is strong in that he works hard every day to meet his responsibilities and eke out a meager living on the the family farm he inherited, just as it was inherited by his father before him. In other words, Ethan finds the strength to sacrifice his own spirit in order to live a “decent” life, as defined by his society and his heritage. Ethan is a prisoner of his own conscience, but he is strong enough to endure his incarceration, until Mattie comes into his life.
