There is a discrepancy amongst the “official” lists of
Rory’s Book Challenge as to which Edith Wharton novels are mentioned amongst
the show. Most lists name Wharton’s novella Ethan
Frome as mentioned on the show. However, only some lists have The Age of Innocence listed. In actuality, Wharton’s name is only mentioned in episode 6 when
Lorelai says to her mother: “I think Edith Wharton would’ve been proud, and busy
taking notes.” Knowing that Emily Gilmore is the epitome of the upper class New
England world, it makes more sense that Lorelai is referencing Wharton’s
Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Age of
Innocence, rather than the rural love story gone wrong in Ethan Frome. It made sense for me to
combine these two books into one post. Despite the vast difference in setting,
these two books comment on the same theme; a theme that is very prevalent in Gilmore Girls.
Ethan Frome
I read Ethan Frome about two years ago as I was
making my way through my school’s book room. It was also the only Wharton work
that is on the high school reading list. The novella follows a man (Ethan
Frome) as he falls in love with his sickly wife’s caretaker. He is torn between
doing the right thing (staying with his wife) or his desire (running off with
the caretaker, Mattie). To jump to the chase here (SPOILER ALERT), Mattie
concocts a plan in which the two of them would commit suicide by sledding into
a tree. Unfortunately (fortunately?) Ethan and Mattie survive the sledding
accident, but Ethan earns a lingering limp and Mattie becomes permanently
paralyzed. Zeenie, Ethan’s previously sickly wife, ironically now becomes their
caretaker as her sickness was previously psychological. Dramatic, huh? Ethan Frome is an outlier amongst
Wharton’s works. Wharton predominantly wrote about the upper class and high
society. This novella was her attempt at naturalism, a trend in literature
popular at the time. I would argue that Ethan
Frome isn’t exactly naturalism; it is the same as all of Wharton’s other
stories in that the protagonist struggles with his desires versus his
expectations. This brings me to…
The Age of Innocence

So it
makes sense that Lorelai would refer to Edith Wharton when stepping into her
mother’s world; the world she left behind to pursue her own desires. When she
had Rory and left for Stars Hollow, she left behind the life she was supposed
to live and went to fulfill her own dreams.
Why can’t
our duty be to fulfill our dreams? I guess it is easier said than done. There
are other people's’ feelings at play and practicalities to consider. But wouldn’t
life be so much easier if we just followed our heart?
Also, Liam Neeson plays Ethan in the movie version of Ethan Frome and we all know how I feel about Liam Neeson 😜
Also, Liam Neeson plays Ethan in the movie version of Ethan Frome and we all know how I feel about Liam Neeson 😜
Pictures
Ethan Frome Book Cover:https://swh-826d.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ethan-Frome.jpg
The Age of Innocence Book Cover:http://covers.feedbooks.net/book/93.jpg?size=large&t=1491307669
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