Twist Of Love In Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome

Jameka Pope
Dr. Morris
Eng. 101
25 Oct. 2017
Ethan Frome Twist of Love
Edith Wharton wrote the book Ethan Frome and told a story based off one character. In the town of Starkfield, Massachusetts a youthful kid named Ethan Frome loved science. However, his love for science was smashed when he had to come back to the ranch to tend to his weak mother. After she passed away the fear of being lonely he married the first voice he heard, which was his new wife Zeena. Wharton topics were of sadness and disappointment with different circumstances all through the novel. It is a constant lack of freedom between the characters until they have their sledding accident.
Ethan Frome is living in Starkfield, Massachusetts, his story is told by a

narrator to discover what caused the tragedy. Ethan married Zenobia Pierce, a cousin who helped nurse his mother during her illness. Then Mattie comes to the Frome house to help with chores. Mattie and Ethan soon fall in love with each other, but not able to show affection. Mattie is forced to leave by Zeena request, she then decides that she would rather die than be away from Ethan. They both decided to make one last stop before dropping her off at the train stations. Mattie pursued Ethan to do one more sled ride, but this time Mattie wanted to crash the sled into the elm at the bottom of the slope. They both agreed to die than living in be apart, but Mattie did not know that Ethan had changed his mind and try to turn the sled before crashing. However, the two survive the death ride and now both of them are crippled. The twisted part of their love is there caretaker Zeena, whose healthy now and make sure they are ok.
The cat is always present around the house with Ethan and Zeena. The animal serves as a symbol of Zeena when she is not around the cat takes her place. The cat is tended to show an invisible presence in the house and a force that comes between Mattie and Ethan. “The cat, profiting by this unusual demonstration, tried to effect an unnoticed retreat, and in doing so backed into the pickle- dish, which fell to the floor with a crash” (45). When the pickle dish fell it reminds the two of Ethan wife existence. Zeena cared so much about the pickle dish that she cried once she found it broken. The awkward silence that shows between Mattie and Ethan, shows they cannot express their self as much as they want. " After the mortal silence of his long imprisonment, Zeena's volubility was music in his ears" (38). Ethan married Zeena because he did not want to be alone and she was the first voice he heard in his house since his mother passed.
Mattie red scarf and red ribbons are symbols of blood and good health, which Mattie has and that’s everything Zeena lacks. " He had been straining for a glimpse of the dark head under the cherry-colored scarf and it vexed him that another eye should have been quicker than his" (17). Ethan has always noticed when Mattie wears red and felt as if she only belongs to him. The final sled run symbolizes his inability to escape his dilemma through actions of any kind. " She put her lips close against his ear to say: right into the big elm. You said you could so 't we'd have to leave each other anymore" (89). His decision kept them alive and made sure they stayed together but their spirit and love for each other will never be the same.