Ethan Frome Symbolism Analysis

In the book, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, there is a lot of symbolism that correlates well with the situation Ethan is in from the start. Not only is death and silence a reoccuring symbol within the book, but the color red is often brought up as the story starts to develop. Several items are said to be red as the story goes on. Ethan’s scar, the pickle dish, and Mattie’s red ribbon and scarf are just a few items that are brought up in the story. This color could represent the desire he feels toward young Mattie since he is so drawn to her but refuses to tell her how he feels.
It may also represent the danger to come, which does come up when they crash into the sled as part of Mattie’s plan to worsen his life. The red of the scar Ethan has can also contribute to symbolism within the story. The scar that he ended up with after the sleigh accident can easily be compared to a symbol used in another book which

involved commitment to adultery. It may also act as a remembrance of what he did wrong i his life. Is it so that this scar may foreshadow Ethan’s wrongdoing as the story unravels? There is no other explanation for why the scar happens to be mentioned in the book.
Illusion was heavily important within the book and could be seen as one of the most significant themes in the story. Ethan would picture a life without the one he vowed to be with
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and imagine himself with young Mattie.

He could not get away from Zeena, nor run away with the girl he felt drawn to. There was no way Ethan could afford to get away even if he tried. Ethan could not afford to pay for himself to leave town, nor could he provide for the woman he desired. He also imagines life as if he were suddenly resolved from all the issues going on in his life. All the issues that went on, Ethan brought upon himself due to the way he managed his life.
Throughout the book, Ethan himself appears to be lifeless which reflected on how he lived his life due to not pursuing his dreams and remaining in the same old town his ancestors inhabited. Ethan is not the only one dreaming within the book. Mattie also pictures herself with Ethan in the future and it does come true. However, she is not Ethan’s wife like she planned to be. She is stuck with both Ethan and her cousin as her cousin cares for her and the man of her dreams. The reality they are facing becomes more of a hell than a happy ending as they imagined it would

become.
A very important quote in the book was “Only he wasn't with me that morning when she first came to... And I say, if she'd ha' died, Ethan might ha' lived; and the way they are now, I don't see's there's much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard; 'cept that down there they're all quiet, and the women have got to hold their tongues." The quote is trying to say that if Mattie had not lived through the accident, he might have gotten a chance to pursue what he truly wanted. Now that Mattie is incapable of caring for herself, Ethan is stuck. He is attached to her and now that his wife’s health has improved, he cannot be happy with either of the women in the Frome household.