Beginning of Essay
' Through her portrayal of Ethan and Mattie's relationship, Wharton deplores a society where societal expectations deny people their chance of happiness.' " Her hat slipped back and he was stroking her hair. He wanted to get the feeling of it into his hand, so it ....

Middle of Essay
.... endurance of his unfortunate life, as she paints a compassionate picture of him with a "look in his face that neither poverty nor physical suffering could have put there". We are led to feel pity for the man who, as a last resort, married Zeena, in an "unsuccessful attempt to escape the silence, isolation, and loneliness" of living a life where social acceptance was had at the cost of his own happiness. From the outset, Wharton creates warmth of feeling between readers and the character of Mattie. She creates an imagery of Mattie that emphasises all the qualities that she admires herself - love, beauty and vibrance, portraying them in such a ....