Why the point of view is so effective in this book

[Tim]

Mostly for writers, but if you're interested, here's an analysis of why Wharton's choice of the third person close point of view is so effective: http://weedlit.blogspot.com/2016/04/a...

I welcome your thoughts!

[[deleted user]]

Beautiful essay, Mr. Weed. Thanks for sharing. One other question? I think, and I don't know what you think, but there is something about close third that feels true. As if there were no judgment, which can easily be present in an omniscient narration. I believe in Ethan's vision of himself, moreso than if an more removed, outside voice had told me what he was feeling. And I feel very, very strongly that Wharton was making a conscious choice. Some of her other books, Hmm, the lesser known books, seem to skate on the edges of stream of consciousness (I'm one of those who believe cultural trends, enlightenments, arise simultaneously in different parts of the world, sometimes inexplicably), and I believe Ms. Wharton could have gone there if she wished. Not with this book, maybe, it is so important that Ethan remain an outsider, that he remains just outside the reader's grasp, don't you think? It's what he wanted. Hmm. Lovely to think about the book again, it's been a long time. Oh, I just had a thought, too, about the difference between Henry James and Ms. Wharton. I think he may have thought he was approaching close third, maybe in "The Golden Bowl," but he seemed to use it to expose his characters, to undermine them, not to humanize them, as I think Ms. Wharton did. Thanks again, you've given me a lot to think about.

[Tim]

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I agree that the POV was a conscious choice! I know of no novelist who has been more deliberate in her choices, and more aware of the underlying architecture of her fictions, than Mrs. Wharton. Ethan Frome is a novel of revelation, and in order for it to have its full effect on the reader 3d close is really the only possible POV, in my view. With first person we'd feel the lack of a retrospective vision (and given his "voice" Ethan's interior would ironically remain too much of a mystery to us), and with omniscient we'd know too much about the other characters.