Ethan Frome is the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton. The novel takes place in Starkfield, a fictional town in Massachusetts. The novel is the story of an anonymous narrator who recounts his meeting with Ethan Frome. He is a man with desires and dreams that culminate in an ironic turn of events. The basis of the story comes from observations made by the narrator at Frome's house when the narrator was temporarily housed there during the time of a winter storm. Throughout the novel, the author uses different themes to illustrate the characters of different characters and also to explain certain events. Through the themes of determinism versus free will and morality versus duty, the author depicts the characters of the novel's characters as seen in the way they move in different situations.II. BodyOne of the novels' major themes is determinism and free will. The author explores the theme of determinism through different characters in the novel. It is a concept that human life is influenced by external forces, including heredity, social customs, and the laws of nature, environment, and history. Through the theme of determinism, the author offers the reader insight into the person Ethan is. Ethan's life is influenced in many ways throughout the novel. For example, Ethan's desire to become an engineer is saddened by the moral obligation and duty of returning to his hometown to care for his dying parents. Ethan also wanted to leave Starkfield after his marriage. The author claims that this did not happen due to his wife's frequent illnesses. The author says that "less than a year after their marriage, she developed the 'disease' that had since... middle of paper ... indeed, obstacles beyond her control prevented her from achieving what he wants, whether it's the career of his dreams or the woman he desires. The author contrasts the character of Ethan with that of Andrew, Hale, Ruth and his wife Zeena. These characters are decisive and act zealously towards their dreams and desires. Through the theme of morality and duty versus desires, the author illustrates how they affect the desires of different characters. This theme also shows Ethan as a coward and, therefore, can only imagine what it would be like to live in accordance with his dreams and desires. The theme of determinism versus free will and morality and duty versus desires is important to understanding the characters in the novel through their interactions with other characters and how they move through different situations. Work cited Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome. 1911. New York: Penguin Books, 19