How Ethan Frome has Patterns of Similar Behavior to Serial Killers

How Ethan Frome has Patterns of Similar Behavior to Serial Killers

Introduction

Ethan Frome is a farmer who is isolated, trying to scrape out a meager living while attempting to tend his frigid wife. The novel, Mattie, explains the accident he had in 1904 in Lenox that involved four girls and one boy. A serial killer is a person who kills several people, usually more than five. Through the novel, the writer develops patterns of imagery, behavior, and changed words. The serial killers have diverse characteristics of sensation seeking, lack of remorse, predatory behavior, guilty, and impulsivity. The same actions are also evident in Ethan Frome. Ethan drives in silence, covering his head, “He never turned his face to mine or answered…”(Wharton, 2016). The purpose of this article is to expose how patterns of behavior are similar between Ethan Frome and serial killers. The paper will explore Ethan’s diverse practices and quotes concerning those of serial killers.

Proud and prudence

Ethan holds high-level pride and economy, which and the wisdom of instinct. The ego did not give him a chance to request as even answer questions regarding the consumption of the money. “If he wanted money, he wanted it, and nobody had a chance to ask why” (Gould, 2016). This action from Ethan justifies dictatorship and thus justifying power-hungry. Frome is in total control as he does not expect any questioning from workmates and even friends. The same behavior is evident among serial killers (Gale, 2016). Some mass murders take action to kill for no significant reason. The act is further evidence that the killings are not ready to answer questions regarding death. The stubborn character and desire for power and dictatorship are among all levels of serial murder. The similarity between Ethan and mass murders is evident from the fact that the two endure pride and produce as a result of instinct in their administration of duties. Generally, the desire for power and prudence is a universal similarity between Ethan and the serial killers.

Predatory behavior

Serial killing is evident in the power, strategies of apprehension, and the state of mind. The string of serial murder involves more than four homicides in a span of period. The killings usually power-hungry perpetrators or sadists who prey on strangers. Further, instances, where disturbed men kill prostitute, is considered a serial murder. The same behavior is evident in Ethan Frome, who tries to kill himself and his wife. The decision to kills themselves was to fail the promise they had made during their marriage. This promise was that they would work to straighten Mrs. Ethan’s sickness. “as soon as he could straighten Mrs. Frome’s illness” (Monteiro, 2018). Initially, Zeena seems to understand the situations of Ethan before things escalate. The desire for Ethan and Zeena to attempt homicide replicates the similarity between patterns of behavior between Ethan Frome and the serial killers. At this time, Ethan views suicide as the only escape from the loneliness. Generally, the serial killers and Ethan Frome have similar behavior patterns regarding their desire to kill.

Lack of remorse

Serial killers don’t regret their actions to kill as they always find excuses for the reason behind their killing. A murder who kills for money finds the intent of the love of money more significant than the effect of the actual execution. In this case, the mass murders project their reasons behind the performance to be religious practices and other factors. Similarly, Ethan justifies the character of lack of remorse as he does not regret his actions. “had felt a brink of eloquence…Mettie seemed to feel the contagion of his embarrassment” (Yalcin, 2018). The assertions indicate that Ethan does not regret his actions regardless of other people being embarrassed about the action.

Further, the lack of remorse is evident when Ethan does not regret his attempt to commit suicide alongside his wife (Mokros et al., 2011). Regardless of being imprisoned, he feels comfortable with the decision he had made to commit suicide. Therefore, the feeling of remorse does not come out from the protagonist at this point. Thus, the behavior of serial murderers and Ethan is apparent from the fact that both parties don’t portray an act of remorse.

Impulsivity

Impulsivity involves taking actions without foreseeing the consequences of the work. When serial murderers do their evil actions, they do not project the outcomes of their evil work. Ethan attempts to commit suicide alongside his wife without expecting the issues of suicide. When an attempt fails, Ethan goes to serve a jail term, a consequence that he does not foresee from the start. This is a replica of the actions of serial killers (Kim, 2016). The people who murder for no reason like killing prostitutes don’t foresee the outcomes. It is also evident that murderers who perform death for money do not consider the side effects of the killing. The aftermath of killing results in long-term jail and other worse consequences. These acts of impulsivity are visible in both the protagonist and the serial killers. Therefore, the two parties are related in the manner that they both don’t foreshadow the aftermath of their actions.

Guilty and insecurity

The feeling of guilt and insecurity is evident among the serial murders and the protagonist Ethan. Frome feels an aspect of vulnerability when Zeena’s empty rocking chair stood facing him. This act involves a lack of response as Ethan could not stand to defend himself against the attack launched due to insecurity. “Ethan had a momentary shock.” The shock results in a no response statue as the oppressor feel an aspect of being guilty. The similar behavior is evident among the serial murders who usually lack response when they find themselves in tricky situations. The fact of being guilt disallows them from taking defense mechanisms but only to allow the attack. The aspect of guilt and insecurity is evident in both the mass murderers and the protagonist. Generally, Ethan and serial murders have a similarity from the fact that they both endure an aspect of guilty and insecurity.

Conclusion

Ethan and serial killers portray a spectrum of similarities through the behavior of killing and having a suicide in mind. Both parties also have similarities in lacking remorse and the aspect of pride while being in leadership. Ethan does not allow questions regarding money in the office (Jie, 2019). The same character is also apparent in serial murders who believe in absolute command. Impulsivity is evident since Ethan does not project on the outcome of the attempt of death with his wife. Later an aspect of being guilty comes out of himself as he stands with no action to take. He lacks remorse since he does not regret the act of making an attempted suicide. Generally, the two parties have a wide range of similarities and thus making Ethan to portray features of serial murder.

References

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Kim, W. D. (2016). Robert Frost’s STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING and

Edith Wharton’s ETHAN FROME. The Explicator, 74(3), 152-155.

Mokros, A., Osterheider, M., Stephen J. Hucker and  Nitschke, J. (2011). Psychopathy and

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