What Are The Symbols In Ethan Frome

In literature, winter and cold are commonly associated with death, however, when it comes to cold in this excerpt, the more prominent motif of cold represents the lack of affection. In Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton makes excellent use of the similar motifs of cold and ice to characterize Zeena. Throughout the excerpt from chapter two, these motifs heavily contribute to Zeena’s cold self, her treatment towards Ethan, and their dimming relationship relationship,

The setting of the story is significant to the atmosphere of the book and diction of the characters. The wintery season throughout the whole book helps set the gloomy, sluggish and lonely tone of Starkfield. The setting of the book also plays a role in the decisions the characters make as well as the conflicts they face. Starkfield plays a cruel part in Ethan Frome's life. He is a man that dreamed of a bright future outside of Starkfield made a decision early in his life-that he would later regret- because he dreaded being alone in Starkfield during another winter.

As shown by Barbara White, the setting is one of the most important pieces of the story. Edith Wharton “... uses snow and cold to brilliant effect in creating a frightening, void-like atmosphere…”(White). This means that the setting isolates the characters in their own little world. In doing so, it adds to the tension between Ethan Frome, Zeena Frome, and Mattie Silver. The setting does more than just isolate the characters, it also makes the book feel colorless. As stated by Barbara White, “The colors of Ethan Frome are black and white...” This void of color allows Edith Wharton to easily create symbols through the small use of colors. This minimal use of colors allow the symbols to pop, and for the reader to easily pick up on them.

The two were ultimately different in the beginning of the story but eventually Mattie has to endure what Zeena did and it makes Mattie more alike to Zeena. Irony is seen since in the beginning it may have seemed that Zeena had a terrible life but in the end Mattie was the one stripped of all that she

There are a quite a few short stories, novels,and poetry that uses things to represent something else. This is also known as symbolism. Stories and novels such as “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston, “The Most dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, and “ The Giver” by Lois Lowry. These novels consist a great deal of symbols.Also, these symbols may have more than one meaning to them. In the novel “Ethan Frome”,there are many different things that symbolizes something. The symbols that are found in the novel, “Ethan Frome”, is the cat, the dead cucumber vine and the pickle dish.

Her feelings of isolation are only intensified by the apparent lack of emotion and affection she receives from her husband Ethan, followed by the betrayal and pain accompanied with becoming aware of Ethan’s passion for Mattie as opposed to her. In another light, Mattie’s feelings of loneliness are less developed throughout the novel, but still heavily apparent. She is orphaned and practically family-less when she seeks refuge from her isolation in the ironically desolate Starkfield farm and mill of the Frome’s. Mattie becomes so completely consumed with the fear of losing this only source of companionship, when Zeena appeals to have her essentially thrown out of their household that Mattie resorts to the ideal that suicide would be better than having to return to a world of solitude. On the surface, Mattie and Zeena appear to have little in common, but on the internal level these two share more than most.

Lastly, the parallelism of Starkfield can be juxtaposed to Mattie and Ethan in an emotional state. Ethan is stuck in an emotional labyrinth: He knows that he must care for Zeena, his wife, but he also loves Mattie. He ultimately decides that life with Zeena would be worse than dying next to his true love, Mattie, which causes his suicide attempt, which he bails out on at the last second, causing his disfigurement. Mattie is trapped emotionally in the same way: her love for Ethan. She shows her feelings multiple times, with the major attempt during their dinner alone. Her plan is to eventually get him away from Zeena and to marry her instead, but this is not a valid option in Ethan’s eyes, again pointing back to the sledding accident.

Mattie’s change in attitude represents the toll of financial and moral obligations of the fortuneless, often prohibiting them from pursuing their interests. When Mattie Silver, coming from a more prosperous background, first arrives at Starkfield to work for the Frome couple, her curiosity and love of nature contrasted that of the rest of the working-class town. Afterwards she realizes the harshness of New England life through her attempted suicide with her love interest Ethan Frome that leaves her quadriplegic, she, like the other citizens, loses her passion. She suffered the consequences of pursuing a married man and performing incompetently as an indentured servant. She transforms into a character much like Ethan’s wife Zeena, sick and

If I were in that situation, I would leave with Mattie. The heart wants what the heart wants. I would pity Zeena considering

Today in my essay, I will be focusing on the main character Ethan Frome from the nonfiction book, “Ethan Frome” written by Edith Wharton. Ethan is a hero, a man of many faces. He lives with two women, his wife and his wife's cousin, with whom he was in love with and probably still is. But hero isn't the only way to look at Ethan. Ethan has many qualities that make him a well-rounded character within the novel, and it builds upon the plot of the novel.

In Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome there are many symbols that are used to represent the many emotions or moods present in the novel. The setting of story is in Starkfield, Massachusetts in the middle of winter which is an occurring symbol in story and, how it effects the people in Starfield especially Ethan Frome and his family. The winter represents the different circumstances that appear in the novel such as Starkfield which is seen as a dull, dark, and quiet place full of mostly poor people. The people of Starkfield aren’t full of joy and seem to be very sluggish and unfriendly.

Mattie and Ethan never follow their love due to Ethan's morals and the respect he has for his marriage to Zeena. He wants Zeena to be well and he takes care of her when she is ill. Frome’s feelings for Mattie never oscillate and he wants to be with this woman who is not his wife. Even though Ethan only had one night with Mattie alone, he cannot help but think of what he has done as he sits in the kitchen. Mattie presents minority, beauty, and good health- all of which Zeena does not possess. It seems he favors the more hip, young, and beautiful women than dull, boring, and unattractive women.

Ethan feeling hopeless and defeated is majorly expressed in the story. For example, Ethan has been through several conflicts with his wife, Zeena. Ethan came to meet his wife when she cared for his sickly mother. In the novella, it says, “...and mother never could get it through her head what had happened, and it preyed on

silence, isolation, and consequences. The most important and the one that appears the most in the book is consequences. The author presents these themes in ways to help the reader learn more in depth about the characters and the author. While also learning lessons about real life situations.

Symbols such as Mattie’s red scarf and red ribbon and also the final sled helps readers to know what might happen next. At the dance Mattie wears a red scarf