Weather Symbolism In Ethan Frome

In the Prologue of Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, Being in Starkfield fro the first time he observed the people and landscape, he says “During the early part of my stay I had been struck by the vitality of the climate and the deadness of the community. Day by day, after the December snows were over, a blazing blue sky poured down torrents of light and air on the white landscape, which gave them back an interesting glitter. One would have supposed that such an atmosphere must quicken the emotions as well as the blood; but it seemed the produce no change except that of retarding still more sluggish pulse of Starkfield. (Wharton 7-8) To an outsider the Winter of Starkfield seems very pretty and almost angelic as the entire town is covered in a blanket of white snow. To the residents of Starkfield, Winter is a parasite

sucking the life out of them with each coming year. Especially for Ethan Frome, whose crops die every year due to the harsh conditions. Over time Ethan has been buried emotionally beneath the Winter. “After the funeral, when he saw Zeena preparing to go away, he was seized with an unreasoning dread of being left alone on the farm; and before he knew what he was doing he had asked her to stay there with him.

He had often thought since that it would not have happened if his mother had died in spring instead of winter”. Winter is the whole reason why Ethan married Zeena, a decision he now regrets. He only did this in fear of being alone. Winter symbolizes death and darkness while Spring symbolizes liveliness and vitality. In Starkfield Summer and Spring are vaguely remembered, never really lived or experienced, it's as if by the time the residents of Starkfield have recovered from one winter, another is already on their heels. Zeena herself is described as dying, greyish, bloodless, and lacking energy, Mattie is described as having cherry colored hair and being full of life. Zeena is the Winter in Ethan’s life as she represents death and despair, while Mattie represents Summer because she brings vitality and energy to Ethan's Life. Ethan feels that walking with Mattie is similar to "floating on a summer stream.”, he thinks her face seems "like a wheat field under a summer breeze." When Ethan and Mattie are coming home from the dance he tells Mattie that the dead cucumber vine at the Frome farmhouse looks "like the crepe streamer tied to the door for a

death.”