The title character is married simply because he didn't want to be alone in the winter.
The title character is married simply because he didn't want to be alone in the winter. His wife, also his mother's nurse, became sick, but she stopped complaining because he stopped listening. When the wife's cousin comes to stay with the family, he falls in love with her, and they attempt to commit suicide via a sledding mishap so they will never have to be alone. For 10 points—name this novel set in Starkfield, featuring Mattie and Zeena, written by Edith Wharton.
The title character is married simply because he didn't want to be alone in the winter.
{Ethan Frome}