WHARTON,EDITH SICK ROLE

In this article, we conduct a textual analysis of Edith Wharton's 1911 novel, Ethan Frome. We offer three readings. The first presents Whart on's account of illness through a framework developed four decades lat er by Talcott Parsons. Wharton's sick role was less medico-centric tha n Parsons; it emphasized the importance of class, gender and community in defining and legitimizing the sick role. Our second reading explor es the socially constructed nature of roles in illness. The sick role as portrayed by Wharton is not the social fact later conceived by Pars ons, but a social construct with no determinate reference beyond that which the local community is willing to grant it. Our third reading ex amines the social context, particularly the power relations, within wh ich this story of illness has been constructed.