Emotions are imperative and if not evident are always underlying throughout. Wharton applies intense mental feelings to make the impact of the novella stronger, as the reader relates to the character more readily.
Wharton emphasises the control winter exerts over Starkfield with "winter shut down on Starkfield".
This is a negative comment as though Starkfield has no control and is dominated by this overwhelming force. Wharton also provides us with a metaphorical image to highlight Starkfield as a vulnerable town constantly under "siege" from the "wild cavalry of March". Military language emphasises the idea of a war between the elements and Starkfield, to the extent "Starkfield emerged from its six month siege like a starved garrison". This shows that Starkfield is constantly defeated, therefore unable to resist and change its "sluggish pulse".
Winter seems to subdue Starkfield all year round as "after the December snows were over", "such an atmosphere must quicken the emotions as well as the blood; but it seemed to produce no change except that of retarding still more the sluggish pulse of Starkfield.". By using "blood" and "pulse", hints of life are suggested. Ironically in context with the sentence, the reader can see 'life' in Starkfield actually appears lifeless. By acquiring knowledge about the inhabitants, for example Ethan Frome who "lived in a depth of moral isolation, this negative influence proves to be correct. This profound imagery is stressed throughout to emphasise winter's suffocating effect on Starkfield and therefore its inhabitants, which in turn heightens the portrayal of the characters, especially Ethan Frome.
Wharton illustrates Ethan's importance from the outset as "if you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome". Wharton incorporates repetition of the strong verb, "must" in addition to engaging the reader directly, "you". This statement provokes curiosity, again, enabling the reader to relate to the character.