Ethan Frome
This story takes place against the cold, gray, bleakness of a New England winter. The Narrator, an engineer who is living temporarily in Starkfield, Massachusetts while working on a project in a nearby town, sees Ethan Frome by chance outside the Starkfield post office, and becomes curious.
The Narrator gathers bits and pieces of information about Ethan becoming more intrigued with the story of his life. Then one evening while returning back from work they are caught in a blinding snowstorm. Ethan invites The Narrator to spend the night at his farm house. It is during this stay that The Narrator is able to glean more information about Ethan's life.
Ethan Frome is extremely tall farmer who is trying to scape out a meager living while also tending to his frigid, demanding and ungrateful wife, Zeena. Zeena had come to live with Ethan after his mother had become ill and he needed help. She took over taking care of Ethan's mom as well as all household duties. After his mother's death, Ethan couldn't imagine living alone again and decided to marry Zeena.
Before his mother had fallen ill Ethan had left home to attend a technological college and dreamed of one day living in a metropolitan area. However, after year of marriage, Zeena became known for "sickliness" and his dream of moving away from Starkfield was doomed.
A ray of hope enters Ethan's life when his wife's cousin Mattie arrives to help. His life was transformed as he fell in love Mattie but their fate is doomed. One evening while out sledding Mattie and Ethan agree that death would be better than living apart. With the intention of committing suicide, Mattie and Ethan head straight for the elm tree at the bottom of the hill. The suicide attempt fails and end up being taken care of by Zeena.
When The Narrator stays overnight at the Frome farm, over twenty years after the smash-up, he is surprised to find that Mattie who was crippled by the accident complains incessantly. In fact, the two women are now so much alike, that he has difficulty distinguishing them.