Like other types of weather, snow is a powerful literary device that can symbolize different things in different contexts. In Ethan Frome, a book by Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton was an American novelist, short story writer, playwright, and designer. Wharton drew upon her insider's knowledge of the upper class New York "aristocracy" to realistically portray the lives and morals of the Gilded Age. She was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Liter…
How does Wharton describe the snow in Ethan Frome?
Within the pages of Ethan Frome, Wharton uses white to describe the snow as “white earth” (Wharton 13) and referring to the hills as being “white curves against the sky” (Wharton 83) and “the white and scintillating fields patches of far-off forest hung like smoke” (Wharton 30).
What are the symbols in Ethan Frome?
Ethan Frome. Symbols. Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. In the two key scenes when Mattie and Ethan are alone together—outside the church after the dance and in the Frome house on the evening of Zeena’s absence—Wharton emphasizes that Mattie wears red.
What is snow a metaphor for in literature?
Snow has likewise often been used in literature as a metaphor for bleakness, desperation and death. In Edith Warton’s Ethan Frome, the author describes one character’s face as looking “more than usually drawn and bloodless” due to “the pale light reflected from the banks of snow.”
Why is snow a symbol of winter?
It symbolizes the merriment of the season and wintry games, such as ice skating and skiing. Death and Mortality – These associations of snow come from its coldness and season. Winter is the time of death and is often used as a metaphor for the final stages of a person’s life. By extension, snow represents these concepts as it’s a symbol of winter.
What does winter symbolize in Ethan Frome?
Winter is also symbolic of the isolation, loneliness, and immobility that Ethan experiences. The name of the town, Starkfield, symbolizes the devastating and isolating effects of the harsh winters on the land and the men who work the land.
What does the sled represent in Ethan Frome?
The Final Sled Run His decision to coast in his final sled run symbolizes his inability to escape his dilemma through action of any kind.
What is the symbolism of Ethan Frome?
Like many of the symbols in Ethan Frome the farm, the sawmill, and the railroad show Ethan their most sinister aspects, expressing the anxiety of an early 20th century people moving away from rural, agricultural society and toward an urban, industrial one.
What does Mattie symbolize in Ethan Frome?
Mattie is distinguished by little other than the red decoration she wears, which symbolizes both passion and transgression. Until the very end, we cannot even be certain that Mattie reciprocates Ethan's feelings for her.
What is the significance of Shadow Pond?
As Mattie and Ethan begin their ride, Ethan feels almost happy. He takes a route that leads them to Shadow Pond. The name "Shadow" is suggestive of the memories that Ethan and Mattie have of the spot; as well, it connotes the inability that Mattie and Ethan have of really communicating their feelings to each other.
What first attracted Ethan to Zeena?
When Ethan first met Zenobia, he was attracted to her and she seemed to be the type of company Ethan desired. When his mother passed away, Ethan was fearful of loneliness, so he asked Zeena to marry him. Why do you suppose Ethan feels that if his mother had died in spring instead of winter, he would not have married?
What does white symbolize in Ethan Frome?
According to the Dictionary of Literary Symbols white can symbolize “sincerity” “candor” or “faithfulness”. White can also symbolize purity and perfectionism as well as the absolute (Mitford 106).
What does the graveyard symbolize in Ethan Frome?
The Frome's graveyard represents death, but also Ethan' s inability to escape Starkfield. As Ethan passes the graveyard, he thinks about the generations of his family who lived an died on the farm, "We never got away- how should you?" (pg. 21).
What is the significance of the red pickle dish in Ethan Frome?
The pickle-dish, Zeena's favorite wedding present, is a symbol of Ethan and Zeena's marriage. For this reason, its destruction is particularly devastating to Zeena. The red color of the dish can be interpreted as symbolizing the passion that the couple no longer share.
Did Mattie love Ethan Frome?
Yes, Mattie loves Ethan. For most of the novel, the audience knows Ethan loves Mattie, but the author keeps Mattie's true feelings secret until the end of the story. Once she has been ordered away by Zeena, Mattie finally confesses her love for Ethan, revealing she has cared for him for months.
Who broke the pickle dish in Ethan Frome?
MattieThe broken pickle dish that Zeena discovers at the top of the china closet symbolizes the shattered Frome marriage. Mattie is partially responsible for the breaking of both the pickle dish and the marriage, having handled them carelessly, and Ethan cowardly hides the broken state of each.
How does Ethan find some glue?
In town, after unloading the lumber, Ethan heads to the Eady store in search of some glue to fix Zeena's broken dish, but he can't find any there. Ethan then hastily goes to the widow Homan's store, where, after a lengthy search, he finally finds a single bottle of glue.
Why does Ethan drive the sleigh by Shadow Pond?
Ethan decides to take Mattie the long way around, along Shadow Pond, in order to relive a handful of memories. Ethan stops the sleigh in a pine wood and helps Mattie down.
What does Ethan do when Mattie gets on the sled in front of him and why?
Ethan climbs onto the sled and Mattie gets on in front of him. He orders her to get on behind him, because he wants to feel her holding him. The horse whinnies as they start down the slope, and they feel like they're flying up into the cloudy sky.
What does the pickle dish represent in Ethan Frome?
The broken pickle dish that Zeena discovers at the top of the china closet symbolizes the shattered Frome marriage. Mattie is partially responsible for the breaking of both the pickle dish and the marriage, having handled them carelessly, and Ethan cowardly hides the broken state of each.
What does white symbolize in Ethan Frome?
According to the Dictionary of Literary Symbols white can symbolize “sincerity” “candor” or “faithfulness”. White can also symbolize purity and perfectionism as well as the absolute (Mitford 106).
What are the symbols in Ethan Frome?
In Edith Wharton story Ethan Frome, the symbols that are important in the story and in its plot are the color red, Zeena’s pet cat, Zeena’s best dish which got shattered into millions of pieces, and the white winter snow that falls over Starkfield. Although many would think that these four symbols that are mention are not really important at all, but in reality, these four symbols do in fact play a major role …show more content…
Why is Lady Catherine ironic?
This is ironic, because she has to approve the union between Darcy and Elizabeth, which in terms of good and evil, this satisfies the readers since the audience always wants to see love triumph over everything. One can contemplate how her impertinence and anger against Elizabeth 's engagement makes Mr. Darcy realize about how good Elizabeth is, and the irony is captured at the end of the story because Lady Catherine is , indirectly, a reason why Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are together. 10. Jane Austen was never married, although in her young life she was attached to a man, but was against their families ' wishes for them to marry. She was once proposed by a man who had all the means of marrying her, she turned him down, because she lacked love for him.…
Why is fear important in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Fear acts an important theme in To Kill a Mockingbird because without it, the story would not include much action or adventure. It has the ability to make a story outstanding or boring. But does fear have the ability to change the way you look and go about…
Is snow dangerous in winter?
While there are many differences, there are also many similarities. In the winter, rain and snow make the road dangerous and drivers will end up into car accidents. Even the best drivers tend to have issues driving in snow and ice. Some vehicles spin out of control when trying to brake while on ice. Winter drivers have to be more careful of how far behind they are from other cars.…
What is the color of sin?
Red is also the color of transgression and sin—the trademark color of the devil—especially in New England, where in Puritan times adulterers were forced to wear red A’s on their clothes (a punishment immortalized in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter ).
What dish does Ethan and Mattie break?
During their meal alone, and the evening that follows, Ethan and Mattie share the house with the cat, which first breaks Zeena’s pickle dish and then seats itself in Zeena’s rocking chair.
What is Mattie's death wish?
Mattie’s death wish appears especially appealing to Ethan in that it entirely eliminates all consequences for both of them, forever. Just as the rider of a sled relinquishes control, so Ethan surrenders his destiny to the whims of Mattie and of fate. Previous section Motifs Next section Key Facts. Test your knowledge.
What does red mean in Starkfield?
Red is the color of blood, ruddiness, good health, and vitality, all of which Mattie has in abundance, and all of which Zeena lacks . In the oppressive white landscape of Starkfield, red stands out, just as Mattie stands out in the oppressive landscape of Ethan’s life. Red is also the color of transgression and sin—the trademark color ...
Does Ethan forfeit control of a sled?
Normally, a sled rider forfeits a considerable amount of control and submits to the forces of gravity and friction but still maintains an ability to steer the sled; Ethan, however, forfeits this ability as well on the final sled run.
What does the snow mean in Dead Poets Society?
As he observes the beauty of the snow-covered land, he ends up vomiting and his friends comfort him by putting snow in his mouth. In this scene, snow is meant to symbolize the purity and innocence of youth, while the puddle of vomit suggests that the boys have lost their innocence and are reaching adulthood.
What does white snow represent?
Innocence and Purity – This association comes from the color of snow. White is typically used to represent purity , as it’s a color that is clean and fresh with no stains. However, over time, snow gets dirtier as it interacts with its environment, much like humans as we grow up and gain experiences.
What does snow symbolize in movies?
Snow is certainly a great backdrop to memorable scenes in both movies and books. Its pristine white color can symbolize great things such as innocence and new beginnings, but it can also go on the other end of the spectrum, representing a deep sense of sorrow and despair . Throw in a savage blizzard and the symbolic meaning of snow changes drastically, foreshadowing a potentially devastating event.
What is snow in literature?
Like other types of weather, snow is a powerful literary device that can symbolize different things in different contexts.
What does snow mean in dreams?
In general, it represents a sense of emotional cleansing and the process of letting go of past sufferings to give way to new beginnings. In other contexts, it may also have a negative interpretation, implying a feeling of being deserted and isolated and reflecting sadness and despair.
Why do people hang Holly leaves?
When the Holly King wins and brings winter, people traditionally hung holly leaves to show respect to him. Interestingly, even though people feared the Holly King because of the darkness he brought, he was never depicted as an evil force. In fact, he is portrayed as someone who looks like Santa Claus, riding a sled in a red suit.
What does snow represent in The Dead?
In The Dead, one of James Joyce’s classic novels, snow is used to represent death and mortality. Snow falls all over Dublin on both the living and the dead. Some interpret this as a comparison between the dead and the living, implying that in that particular context, there’s no big difference between being dead and alive. Moreover, it serves as a reminder that mortality is universal and that in the end, everyone will share the same fate.
What color is the tree in Ethan Frome?
Trees are known to represent life, however when Wharton describes them as being brittle, it has the opposite effect. Throughout Ethan Frome, the color red attributes to Mattie Silver and the sun.
What does Ethan's anger mean?
Ethan’s anger at the situation he found himself in, being married to a woman that represents misery and having to go through everyday having to take care of her and indulging her “sickness” or “sickly” disposition, instead of having the lively household that hoped to have early on in their relationship.
What color is the sky in the Middle Ages?
In the early Middle Ages, blue was seen as akin to darkness, so much so that an association with the dark angel of evil becomes established (Gage 57). Within the novel, the color blue shows only a few times. Wharton refers to the sky as being “deep well of blue” (Wharton 42).
What does yellow mean in the novel?
Yellow, less prevalent in Wharton’s novel, no less powerful. Yellow describes hair, grain,harvest, sand, dawn, the sun, and gold— often youthful disposition. However, yellow may also be a sign of disease as well as age, Metaphorically, when one has jaundice, one is jealous, envious, or bilious (Ferber).
What does gray symbolize in a novel?
Gray, another prevelant color in novel, defines symbolically, as associated with gloom and depression. However, as a balance between black and white it is the color of mediation. Gray also represents uncertainty. In Christianity, gray symbolizes the immortality of the soul (Mitford 106).
What color is the sun in Wharton's poem?
Gold, the literary norm for describing the sun, reflects happiness and wealth instead Wharton uses the color red—“sunrise burned red in the pure sky” (Wharton 30), “reddening in the afternoon sun” (Wharton 38), “red sun” (Wharton 74), and the “sun’s red and of the glitter on the snow” (Wharton 31). Page: 2 of 6.
What does the color black mean in Wharton's story?
Wharton uses the color black in instances that describe the character’s surroundings or attributes. For example, “clumps of bushes made black stains on it [snow]” (Wharton 13). Interpreted as the tainting of the purity that the snow represents in the serene environment Wharton created in this instance.
What does gray symbolize in Ethan Frome?
Gray also represents uncertainty. In Christianity, gray symbolizes the immortality of the soul (Mitford 106). In Ethan Frome, gray describes the landscape along, for example, “elms looked gray against the snow” (Wharton 13), “open country rolled away before them grey and lonely under the stars” (Wharton 25), “cold grey dusk and made the snow look whiter” (Wharton 41), and the “gray rim of the fields” (Wharton 74).
Why do Mattie and Ethan travel through the unknown?
The two travel through the unknown because their future remains to be so but they decide to take the road together when Mattie could have just as easily taken Denis Eady up on his offer of having a ride home however she chooses Ethan. Another example within the story includes when Ethan followed his wife, Zenobia, to their bedroom after he returns from fetching Mattie at the town social, describing the room growing “perfectly black” (Wharton 30). In this instance, the blackness represents the doom that lays ahead for Ethan and his “pursuit” of Mattie. However, ambiguity can arise.
What does the blackness on Zeena's face mean?
For example, when Ethan and Zeena are having a disagreement, Zeena’s face “stood grimly out against the uncurtained pane, which had turned from gray to black” (Wharton 60). Can we determine if the blackness refers to the window pane or the expression on Zeena’s face? Because if the statement refers to Zeena’s expression, lends to the fact that Zeena has some “evil” intent when it comes Ethan and Mattie. In some instances, “black” symbolizes death or impending death. For example “trees that looked black and brittle” (Wharton 74) and “black curtain of the Varnum spruces” (Wharton 88).
Why did Wharton repeat her use of color?
Wharton tended to repeat her usage of color to reiterate her intentions. The novel Ethan Frome wrought with symbolism, however, can allow for one to reach for interpretations that may not be there yet focusing on one attribute causes the interpretation to lack other factors that can affect the interpretation.
What does the color gray mean in Starkfield?
However, by describing the landscape in many instances gray, conveys a sense of uncertainity of the future for not only Ethan but also those in his life. A part of him wants to leave Zenobia and start fresh with Mattie, build a family with her, he imagines all the things he cannot have with Zeena with Mattie and uncertain about where it leads. The color gray conveys both the uncertainty of it all and the depressive state that
What does Wharton trying to convey?
When Ethan goes through life, he notices things as they pertain to him, thus, in this situation, representation of Ethan’s inner turmoil reveals itself within the environment. Ethan’s anger at the situation he found himself in, being married to a woman that represents misery and having to go through everyday having to take care of her and indulging her “sickness” or “sickly” disposition, instead of having the lively household that hoped to have early on in their relationship.
What is the yellow wrapping on Zeena's head?
On one hand, Zeena is showing her age with the emphasis on the yellow wrapping causing her to appear more yellow tinted in the skin, creating a jaundice appearance in her pale sallow skin, as her complexion describes. Further emphasizing her aging and “sickly” appearance even though she relatively young, in her mid-thirties, described as being an old woman.
Why does Ethan wear a red scarf?
After, Ethan watches her dancing with Mattie the narrator flashes back to how they met, nd how Young Ethan fell in love with Mattie Silver. This is all connected together with the red scarf because after the Ethan watches the dance, he thinks about all the good qualities of Mattie, and the audience can automatically tell that Ethan has some love for Mattie. In the story Ethan Frome it states “he could show her things and tell her things, and taste the bliss of feeling that all he imparted left long reverberations and echoes he could wake at will. (Chapter 1, page 33). This clearly indicates that this connects with the red scarf because it gives a rief history between them which in a way shows how Ethan loves her in such a little time that he has met her. The color red is used as a romantic color, because women most likely like roses which is why it is used and demonstrated as a color of passion and love between Mattie and Ethan. The color of red does not stop there. Throughout the chapters the author Edith Wharton uses the color of red as the complete opposite of love and passion but instead as adultery.
Why is the farm symbolism important in Starkfield?
Last but not least, the last symbol that will be talked about is the farm. Ethan Frome farm is a symbolism in the story because it also creates a plot in the story. Ethan Frome always wanted to escape Starkfield, and become an engineer but then his father died, and his mother became sick. Ethan’s goals has always been to leave the farm because he wanted to make something out of himself, but he ever did successfully leave the farm because the farm and mill were not enough to sell, and wouldn’t give him much profit.
