ipl-logo

Symbolism In Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton

488 Words2 Pages

Sometimes one’s surrounding can display how their lives will be as they continue to grow. Author Edith Wharton uses “Ethan Frome” to make a point about the naturalism in literature, the specific point being one’s future has the potential to be shaped by the environment that they live in. In Ethan Frome, symbolism was utilized to show how the life of the character, Ethan, was indirectly determined by many aspects of his own surrounding. The cemetery in which Ethan’s ancestors are buried foreshadowed Ethan’s inability to leave Starkfield and gain a better and more promising life, unlike the one he was living. This is unfortunate and heartbreaking in a sense as it also meant that his hopes and dreams had been destroyed as well. Another symbol …show more content…

With Maddie’s entrance, the Frome house became even more in turmoil as Ethan starts to fall for Maddie, even though he was still married to Zeena. There is the possibility that someone reading may feel sympathetic towards Zeena but I think many people will think she indirectly asked for her marriage to be irreversibly broken as she never truly showed that she loved Ethan nor did she go out of her way to create a happy home environment. Though she did love him deep down in her heart, she was unable to obtain his heart as easily and without effort as Maddie did, even though she was around him more. Ethan was so unhappy in his marriage, he was willing to die with Maddie and leave Zeena behind but fate is a cruel mistress because not only did Maddie and Ethan survive, Maddie actually became a younger version of Zeena which led to the end of the love he had acquired and the beginning of a more depressing and barren

Show More
Related
416 Words | 2 Pages

Shyanne Lewis Cp English III Mrs. Hejazifar April 28, 2016 Symbolism of Color Analysis In Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, the symbolism of color plays a big role in the novel. There’s one color expressed throughout the novel. The color being red, symbolize different things for each red object. The color reveals a lot about the characters.

Read More
339 Words | 2 Pages

Sebastian Castellanos English Unit Activity Ethan Frome There are many different symbols or themes to be found in the story of Ethan Frome. A novel written in 1911 by Edith Wharton. But of all things the red glass pickle dish meant the most and best described the main topic of the story, Ethan's and the relationship to his wife Zeena. Ethan Frome is a story of a man who finds love in his cousin’s wife Mattie although unhappily married to another woman by the name of Zeena. One day Zeena leaves and Ethan is excited to have the house alone with Mattie.

Read More
447 Words | 2 Pages

In the book Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton multiple objects are used to represent big moments in the book and is heavily used. There are many objects that clearly relate to people and relationships between people. The first emblem that represents love between Mattie and Ethan is Mattie's red scarf and ribbon in her hair. The first symbol is the pickle dish representing Ethans and Zeena’s relationship. The final commodity is the cat which represents Zeena.

Read More
733 Words | 3 Pages

Andrew Comer Mrs. Metzker English IIIA 16 February 2017 Symbolism in Literature Can you recognize symbolism when you see it and understand the meaning and purpose behind it? In Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, written in 1911, the pickle dish symbolizes Ethan and Zeena’s marriage. There are three reasons that this dish symbolizes marriage: 1. The pickle dish is kept up high on the shelf and is not supposed to be touched, 2.

Read More
275 Words | 2 Pages

Edith Wharton’s uses Mattie Silver as a literary foil to Zeena Frome in ways which help highlight the differences between these two characters. As shown, Edith portrays Mattie as a warmer and brighter character, while Zeena is portrayed as a sick and cold character. For instance, Edith Wharton stated “All the way down to the village he continued to think of his return to Mattie. The kitchen was a poor place, not “spruce” and shining as his mother had kept it in his boyhood; but it was surprising what a home-like look the mere fact of Zeena's absence gave it.” This quote shows that Zeena’s presence in the house gives the setting a dark sense and when she’s not present and Mattie is the only one in the house, Ethan Frome sees the home as a

Read More
208 Words | 1 Pages

In the book, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Ethan is the main character. Ethan starts off in the story as a pushover but as the story goes along he gains a backbone against the protagonist, Zenna. Ethan is a round and dynamic character. In the beginning of the story when they go back in time you can tell that he doesn’t speak too much and is kinda detached from the rest of the town.

Read More
1936 Words | 8 Pages

In the case of Ethan, he is a wanderer in a society that relies heavily upon each other. When his niece goes missing, his drive and bravery leads him on the search for her, but also leads him into conflict with newfound urge for revenge. This contradiction of feelings for both characters is

Read More
1358 Words | 6 Pages

In 1911, Edith Wharton published her short novel, Ethan Frome, which is a story of an unhappy bleak marriage, an impermissible love affair, and a violent attempt of suicide. The once ambitious Ethan finds himself in a begrudging marriage with the older Zenobia Pierce but is also attracted to Zenobia much younger and distant relative, Mattie Silver. Trapped in the village of Starkfield on a run-down farm and sawmill business, Ethan becomes the “ruin of a man” at age 58. Edith Wharton exhibits that Ethan Frome changes from a young man who dreams of being an engineer living in a city with lecture halls and theaters in Florida to a broken man, “living in hell now” because of the decision he made in interacting and taking Zenobia as his wife. Ethan met Zeena when he was caring for his mother that died from….

Read More
731 Words | 3 Pages

Zeena does not seem like a nice woman. She seems angry and insane. She is passive aggressive and only says things to get her way. Also, she uses her illness to get things she wants. Zeena makes Ethan’s life a living hell for a while.

Read More
616 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel titled Ethan Frome

Read More
722 Words | 3 Pages

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is a story that is much more than meets the eye. Wharton’s novel is a tragic tale of a man who marries on a whim and years later falls in love with another, that particular other being his wife’s cousin and handmaid. This tale ends with an “accident” gone wrong, and the three are almost trapped in their home forever (Wharton 74-77). Throughout the story, Wharton uses symbolism to give the story so much meaning. Wharton includes symbolism within her setting, objects and their colors, and her characters.

Read More
834 Words | 4 Pages

Edith Wharton focused her novel Ethan Frome, around the tragic story of the man himself. Ethan lived with his sherd wife, Zeena, and discovered early on in there marriage that happiness was not in the card for him, as he gave up his dreams for fear of being alone. Years into their marriage Zeena's cousin, Mattie, comes to stay with the Fromes. Ethan soon finds himself entranced by the girl, longing to be with her over the women he was married to. The two find themselves falling in love and are devastated when they hear that Zeena has arranged for a new aid to come.

Read More
410 Words | 2 Pages

Whenever Wharton relates anything toward the Frome’s marriage, she always compares it to weather that likely to foreshadow the trouble that the couple is going through. As the “thick snowfall” from the previous night symbolizing the problem within the marriage will increase. Wharton uses diction for “snowfall” and “white waves massed” that emphasize the size of the Frome’s trouble with their marriage. In addition, the “garden fence” is a juxtaposition since “garden” signifies hopes and dreams, but in reality, the “fence” represents restriction, just like Zeena restrict Ethan from becoming an engineer. Due to Zeena illness, she has to travel to “Springfield to seek the advice of some new doctor” (Wharton 32).

Read More
367 Words | 2 Pages

Edith Wharton powerfully conveys his thoughts through the constant use of literary devices, detailed descriptions, and strong vocabulary. The novel possesses a central theme of desire and awe toward the characters and their nature. The novel Ethan Frome is a Wharton conveys the desire Ethan has for Mattie within the first chapter of the book “like a window that has caught the sunset”. Here Wharton speaks of Mattie, through the use of similes.

Read More
738 Words | 3 Pages

The tragic novella of Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton focuses on adultery in rural New England. Stressing the importance of relationships, the narrator tells the story of Ethan Frome, a man searching for love. Despite being married to his cousin Zeena, he only views this civil union as a moral obligation. Then, he ventures into an adulterous relationship with Mattie Silver, and begins to understand what love is really about. The author often focuses on a red pickle dish, a treasured wedding gift, which unexpectedly shatters.

Read More

More about Symbolism In Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton

Open Document