Throughout the years, there have been many famous tragic heroes in literature, from Romeo to Hamlet. In the novella, Ethan Frome, the author Edith Wharton portrays Ethan as an “Archetypal” Tragic Hero. For instance, Ethan’s tragic fall at the end of the novella, was a result of a flaw in his personality and his wrong choices. Ethan’s actions led to a sorrowful ending, there seemed to be some injustice as to what happened, producing catharsis in readers. Although others might disagree, Ethan fits into all the characteristics of an “Archetypal” Tragic Hero.

There are many reasons as to why Ethan Frome is the perfect example of an “Archetypal” Tragic Hero. For example, an “Archetypal” Tragic Hero usually has a tragic flaw in their personality …show more content…
For instance, in order for a character to be an archetype, they must be try to attain too much, but Ethan supposedly doesn’t. This is shown through Ethan’s willingness to be selfless and take care of his mother and Zeena. Someone who possesses hubris would have never endured everything Ethan went through, such as spending most of his marriage taking care of a sick women who he doesn’t love, but Ethan was clearly willing to abandon Zeena. For example, this claim is incorrect, because Ethan was willing to take money from the Hales who struggle with money, because he believed, “If the Hales were sorry for him they would surely respond to his appeal…”(112). This proves that Ethan wasn’t thinking about Zeena or the Hales, he was only thinking about himself and what was better for him and Mattie, since Ethan needed the money so he could run off with her. In addition, this also shows that even though, “He was a poor man, the husband of a sickly woman, whom his desertion would leave alone and destitute; ...had the heart to desert her…” he was willing to do so by decieving the Hales who pitied …show more content…
For instance, it was very selfish of him to marry Zeena on impulse, so he wouldn’t feel alone. Ethan’s unwillingness to be honest, made him run away from his problems at home with Zeena, and into a bigger mess when he failed to commit suicide with Mattie. Although others disagree with this opinion, he clearly did not think about his actions and Zeena’s feelings when he ran away with Mattie. If Ethan would have been honest and selfless, he wouldn’t have tragically ended up in a bleak house with Zeena and Mattie under the same