In Edith Wharton's book, Ethan Frome, the author descriptively portrayed the inner conflict between the pursuit of pleasure and the burden of obligation as Ethan's life unfolded to the reader. As a creative device, she used the bleak, and barren New England countryside to reflect Ethan's frame of mind. The burden of obligation shrouded Ethan's life. He felt obligated to his parents, their farm, his wife Zeena, and her cousin Mattie. Overcome by his enormous …showed first 75 words of 507 total…

…showed last 75 words of 507 total…to live, laugh, learn, and love, as well as to worship, work, and weep. God emphasizes the importance of the philosophy of moderation Ecclesiastes. It says that there is a time and a season for everything under Heaven. God outlines a healthy, and happy life as a life led in moderation. Unfortunately Ethan never had God's plan to follow. As a result, he led an unhappy, unfulfilled life burdened by too much guilt and obligation.