...Symbolism is a thing that stands for or represents both itself and something else (p.128). Multiple times in the short story “Ethan Frome” the author Edith Wharton demonstrated symbolism. She strongly displayed it when Ethan’s wife Zeena left for the night to go visit a doctor. During that night many things happened which caused Ethan to think of his wife. The cat, rocking chair and the pickle dish are more than random objects, they have deep meanings to Ethan Frome. In chapter four after Mattie had set the table for supper the cat, Puss, had jumped between them into Zeena’s empty chair (p. 47). After supper Ethan and Mattie were doing their own thing the cat had jumped into Zeena’s rocking chair after Mattie had go out it. The cat rolled itself into a ball and lay watching them with narrowed eyes (p. 50). The symbolism of the cat is being in all the spots Zeena would be if she was there. Even though Zeena is out of town it is as if she is still there because of the cat....
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...of imagery, theme, and symbolism within literature, producing changes that still linger in novels today. One author whose writings are a perfect example of the influences of naturalism is Edith Wharton. Her short stories, novels, and personal biographies were riddled with naturalistic traits. Wharton used symbolism in Ethan Frome to enhance the naturalistic themes of the novel. Naturalism was a strong movement in the 1900s which took the literary world by storm. Using the theory that nature is an unconquerable force, always acting against man, literature was filled with all variations of naturalistic motifs and symbols (Campbell Naturalism). Themes of predestination, astrological influence, and natural moralistic values were strong (Bellman 140). Scenery was often used to convey the mood of characters through their observational view of it (Moore). Naturalism says that humans are animals, so their connection with nature is deep and vital. Feelings and desires are distinctly linked to the animalistic traits of humans’ ancestors, proving that instinct is something set by nature within the body, and cannot be ignored. Common characteristics of a naturalistic novel are found in that the characters are always lower-class, the characters always live by passion and instinct, and that free will is always terribly far from their grasp (Campbell Naturalism). Dramatic scenes of desperation are a sine qua non, like the scene where Ethan and Mattie from Ethan Frome tragically drive themselves...
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...1. How does Wharton (the author) use symbolism to reinforce plot development in Ethan Frome? Edith Wharton uses symbolism to show the reader how things can change. For example in the movie the pickle dish, that Zeena had gotten as a wedding gift. She kept it up on a shelf for no one to use. When Mattie and Ethan are home alone she gets that dish out to use on the table, they realize they like each other a lot and the cat jumps one the table and breaks the pickle dish, symbolizing Ethan and Zeena’s love for each other is broken and falling apart. There are many different ways this movie symbolizes different items. 2. Is Ethan a strong person? Why or why not? (Is it good/bad? Emotionally strong?) Ethan gives the reader the image of not being...
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...the days with and reassure each other that everything will turn out ok. Unfortunately, this prize is unobtainable for many and for many different reasons. Some people are not meant for love, refuse love, or for the rare case have fallen in forbidden love. Forbidden love is seen all to often; whether it is Romeo and Juliet or Ethan and Mattie, there is no escaping the curse. Ethan and Mattie have a forbidden love; after all Ethan is married to a relative of Mattie. Their situation is far from easy becuase unfortunately the author, Edith Wharton, intended it this way. Within Ethan Frome it can be disputed that, Wharton, intends for the love of Ethan and Mattie to never have a chance. Throughout the book, Wharton descriptively wrote scenes, which depicted their love having no fighting change, specifically against Zeena. Any moment in which Ethan and Mattie are alone or in some cases within a sensuous moment there is interference. Throughout the novella Ethan and Mattie show signs of deep connection varying from innocence to pure sexual attraction. Ethan is aware of his strong feelings for Mattie but is also aware that it is forbidden. “ It pleased Ethan to have surprised a pair of lovers on the spot where he and Mattie...
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