In the novel, Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton uses setting as a symbol. A symbol is something, which represents or suggests a relationship or association. Throughout the novel, the setting represents both the character's moods, and the characters themselves. .
Setting is constantly used to describe Mattie. Mattie is, quite often, compared to spring, a symbol of life. Mattie comes to Starkfield in the springtime. When she comes, she becomes Ethan's reason for living. She is really the only life in the household, because Zeena is sick, and Ethan is unhappy. Mattie is also described with the color red. She has a red scarf, red ribbon in her hair, a red bedspread, and red lips and cheeks. The color red is symbolic of life and love, as Ethan falls in love with Mattie.
When Ethan is with Mattie, the setting seems to go from gray and sorrowful to bright and lively. "The early midst had vanished and the fields lay like a silver shield under the sun. It was one of those days when the glitter of winter shines through a pale haze of spring. Every yard of the road was alive with Mattie's presence" (Wharton 59). This quote represents Ethan's sadness turning into happiness as soon as he thinks of Mattie.
Winter is also a symbol throughout the novel. Winter is used to represent death. Ethan is frequently approached in the cold setting where something bad always happens. For instance, if Ethan's mother hadn't died in the winter, he would not have been compelled to marry Zeena. This is a perfect example of a negative effect that the cold and winter has on Ethan. .
Edith Wharton applies this declaration in her novel, Ethan Frome. ... This quote describes the world of Ethan Frome when with Mattie. ... Another manner in which we can comprehend the characters and events in Ethan Frome is through the setting and symbolism. ... There seems to be symbolism between the setting and Ethan. ... Thorton Wilder's quote can be understood using the story of Ethan Frome. ...
In the novels, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton and Native Son by Richard Wright, a majority of the novels can be interpreted only by the use of symbolism. ... The entire novel of Ethan Frome, the characters complain about the cold harsh winters they face each and every year. ... In Native Son, snow is interpreted similarly to Ethan Frome's psychological and physical suffocating force. ... Red is only considered to be dark and somber which contrasts to this symbolism in Ethan Frome. In Ethan Frome, the color red is thought to represent desire, seduction, love, passion, and lust. ...
I found Ethan Frome to be a heartbreaking tale of despair and anguish. ... Several themes are revealed in Ethan Frome. ... In Ethan Frome, Wharton situates the morals and devotion of marriage against true love and sinful compassion. ... Another The literary elements of Ethan Frome are quite extraordinary. ... A classic tale of star-crossed lovers, Ethan Frome is not unlike other traditional tales. ...
Ethan Frome was considered by many to be Edith Wharton's finest novel. ... Ethan Frome never had an easy life. ... Ethan Frome was a very symbolic novel. ... Yust's essay on Ethan Frome was enlightening. He found symbolism in many interesting places. ...
In the book, "Ethan Frome," by Edith Wharton there are many different symbols that are all very important to the plot. ... Zeena is the wife of Ethan Frome, the main character, and is a hypochondriac. The cat first appears when Ethan Frome and Mattie Silver, the girl he will end up having an affair with, spend the night together in Zeena's absence. ... Another reason the cat is so important in "Ethan Frome" is because of its influence on one of the biggest moments in the story. ... The pickle dish represented Zeena and Ethan's relationship. ...
Ethan Frome, the main character in the Edith Wharton novel Ethan Frome, is a man who lives in a world of silence. ... This essay will show how Edith Wharton uses seasonal symbolism to heighten the tragedy in the novel. ... The setting for Ethan Frome is winter. ... Ethan removed this portion of his home in order to make his life easier or better yet as a type of symbolism. ... The three main characters in the novel Ethan Frome, Zeena Frome, and Mattie Silver all seem at one point in time to take on the properties of the season most prominent within the novel, winter. ...
The books most obvious theme is society and morality as obstacles to the fulfilment of desire, since Ethan Frome's plot is concerned with Ethan's desire for a women who is not his wife. ... The bulk of the novel concerns Ethan Frome's perspective and actions. Whereas the other characters in the narrative remain rather opaque, we are allowed access to all of Ethan Frome's thoughts as his life approaches a crisis point. ... Symbolism is a very dominant feature of this novel, in the two key scenes when Mattie and Ethan are alone together - outside the church after the dance, a...
In her beautifully crafted novel, "Ethan Frome," Wharton presents the winters of Starkfield, Massachusetts as one of the major deterrents in the success of Ethan Frome's dreams. ... Mattie is, perhaps, Ethan's summertime. ... Ethan sees Zeena to be awful. ... They warn't ever anybody but Ethan" (182). ... Wharton does an excellent job as he demonstrates how Ethan could not fulfill his dreams through the use of symbolism, characterization and irony; however, there is an underlying theme of frustration throughout this entire story. ...
