Edith Wharton

In Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, symbolism plays a major role in the story. In order for the symbols in his story to “pop” out or show its “shine” Edith Wharton uses symbols that can be found in the story, and even uses the historical background that the symbol may have in society or in myths, for the symbols that appear in the story. 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…

“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth” (New King James Version, Eccl. 7:4). From this wise Biblical proverb stems the title of Edith Wharton’s second novel The House of Mirth. The narrative examines Lily Bart, a seemingly prosperous and confident young New Yorker plagued by self-hatred and debt. The common literary allusions “gilding the lily” and “consider the lilies” better illustrate these negative attributes, which ultimately…

In the book Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, a man named Ethan who lives on his family’s farm with no hope of leaving, struggles to support and to love his wife. When he begins to fall for his wife’s cousin who is helping out in the house during the midst of a cold depressing winter, she begins to turn it into a winter wonderland. Many aspects of the book lead up to the suicide attempt of Mattie and Ethan; it all starts with Mattie turning down Denis Eady and then Ethan kissing the cloth.…

The novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton has an extensive amount of imagery, many scenes are accompanied by descriptions of the bitter winter that encompasses the town. Even the name of the town that the characters inhabit, “Starkfield”, contributes to this imagery. In the novel, Ethan Frome is no longer in love with his wife, Zeena, but now yearns for her younger cousin, Mattie Silver. During the harsh winter that the main story takes place in, Mattie is a warm and comforting presence to Ethan in…

Modeled after Edith Wharton's novella of the same name, the 1993 adaptation of Ethan Frome does a pleasant job in retelling the original story. In the film, as in the novella, Ethan Frome depicts the story of a scandalous love triangle between Ethan (Liam Neeson), a farmer, Zeena (Joan Allen), Ethan’s sickly wife, and Mattie (Patricia Arquette), Zeena’s caretaker set in a dull New England town. These three characters, all with very different in personalities, trapped in a claustrophobic…

Edith Wharton, author of “Ethan Frome,” wrote a twisted love story that ends tragically. Mattie Silver moves to Starkfield MA with her cousin, Zeena Frome and her husband Ethan Frome. She moves in with them in after her father dies. After a while, Mattie and Ethan fall in love. They try to commit suicide together and are unsuccessful and are permanently disabled. From the events that have taken place, Mattie Silver changes from taking care of others, to having to be taken care of. Mattie Silver…

In the novel The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, sight plays a very important role to the overall development of the book. Wharton uses sight in two different ways: to represent the nativity and ignorance of people as well as to show how the main characters chose to reflect upon their experiences. This novel reflects the innocence of Newland’s character although he doesn’t realise it until the end and how his ignorance has impacted the experience of those around him. In this book, sight and…

women at home. Although some may see marriage as a mutual relationship, many would see it as a prison. Many problems arise from the incompatibility of the significant others and is usually fueled by their distinct personalities. In Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, Wharton exemplifies a red pickle dish as a fragile object that is reminiscent of the vulnerable relationships which leads to the eventual demise of the Fromes. One may imagine that a simple pickle dish…

This paper will present how things change in Ethan Frome. I will mention about how the book jumps back and forth from future to the past and back to future. Then I will mention about the relationship between the characters in Ethan Frome. Next I will talk about the ending of the book. Lastly I will give my opinion about the book and if I would recommend this book to anyone. When you first star to read the book Ethan Frome it is in the future. The book starts off when a ‘visitor to Starkfield,…

There is much more to Ethan Frome than simply an unhappy love story. In fact, Wharton offers the reader a complex story through the adequate use of literary devices to find the deeper meaning. Whether it is told directly or it is integrated in between the lines, all written pieces have the sense of a deeper meaning. While Edith Wharton tells the story of Ethan’s desperate hopes and attempts to leave his dreary life, she employs different themes, symbolism and foreshadowing to convince the reader…