Battle of the Books Ethan Frome vs. Of Mice and Men...

Battle of the Books: Ethan Frome vs. Of Mice and MenMany novels are meant to be enjoyed by the reader as they are read. Some novels may relate to everyday relationships, while others may relate to society in general. Two authors that deal with these topics are Edith Wharton and John Steinbeck. Edith Wharton born Edith Newbold Jones to a wealthy family in New York combined her insiders view of Americas privileged classes with a brilliant, natural wit to write humorous and incisive novels and short stories. On the other hand, John Steinbeck, born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California spent his summers working on nearby ranches. His inspiration came from everyday life as a worker. Ethan Frome, the title character of Edith Whartons†¦show more content†¦The climax of this novel is when Ethan and Mattie confess their love for each other and decide to commit suicide by sledding into a large tree. The falling action was that Ethan and Mattie regain consciousness after crashin g into the tree; Ethan takes both of them in and cares for them into old age. His struggles are exacerbated by his surroundings such as Zeena his wife, the bleak Starkfield landscape, and his home which often takes on an oppressive quality. Mattie was Zeenas cousin and Ethans lover. This novel shows how even though Ethan and Zeena are married; Ethan loves Mattie more than he could possibly love Zeena. Its bad enough to see the two women sitting there - but his face, when he looks around that bare place, just kills me (Chapter 10). On the other hand, Of Mice and Men, a tragic fictional novel about two migrant workers in California during the Great Depression who were George Milton, intelligent and evil, but caring; and Lennie Small, an ironically named man of large stature and immense strength, but limited mental abilities come to a ranch near Soledad south-east of Salinas, California to. George may seem like a mean guy for example in this quote: Whatever we aint got, thats what you want. God amighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an work, an no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get