Ethan Frome - can someone explain this detail?

By PatientPatience

I get that this book gets a ton of hate and I know it’s not for everyone, but I’m still kinda stuck on something. I don’t really understand why Mattie ends up being the “whiny voice” at the end. Like, they basically made her into what Zeena used to be? I know Zeena’s issues probably shaped her, but she always seemed kind of like that anyway. Mattie was way more sweet, so it just feels like too big of a shift to me. Also, I can’t really decide if I’m missing something obvious, but I don’t get why Zeena suddenly seems able to care for them again. I’m sure these are probably basic questions, but I just want to see what other people think.