Motifs and Symbols - Apuntes Ethan Frome PDF

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Apuntes Ethan Frome...

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ETHAN FROME. MOTIFS AND SYMBOLS. LAURA CASTILLA RODRÍGUEZ In this novella, Ethan Frome, we are talking about we can see different motifs and symbols that are obviously repeated throughout it. The most obvious and recurrent motif, and as Wharton always tried to include is IMPRISONMENT. There are different ways to see reflected this theme in the novella. HOUSE First of all, Ethan is, so to speak, tied to his house for several reasons: Firstly, when he had to take care of his ill mother, then taking care of his wife because she is also ill (so marriage also can represent this imprisonment, because maybe if he hadn’t been married, he would not have helped Zeena) and finally, taking care also of Mattie after the “accident”. Ethan also is tied to his house because of his lack of money: he cannot move to another house or place to live in page 5 lines 29-30 page 35 lines 2-3 We can also see how Zeena is tied with the house because of her disease that does not allow her to work or even get a walk around the farm. STARKFIELD Every characteristic of this town seems to add this sense of imprisonment: -

Starkfield’s climate, its surroundings, and the isolated position of the Fromes’ farm. The landscape that is described as rocky, barren, grim-looking, sullen and cheerless. And of course, the huge amount of snow in winter that has an especially oppressive and desperate effect.

THE BAY Because of these characteristics of the landscape, Ethan’s bay has a lot of trouble trying to move forward, pulling the carriage. Page 6 lines 18-19 Connected with this last aspect we can see that the only moment where we can see freedom during the novella is when someone takes the TRAIN or is near the train because or they are going to leave Starkfield or they are thinking about this idea. Also hope is seen when Mattie arrives in the train: ” But it was not only that the coming to his house of a bit of hopeful young life was like the lighting of a fire on a cold hearth.” Page 15 lines 17-19

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ETHAN FROME. MOTIFS AND SYMBOLS. LAURA CASTILLA RODRÍGUEZ We can also see as a motif: SILENCE Silence is also connected with imprisonment because of the ETHAN’S DIFFICULTIES IN COMMUNICATING: He has a lot of trouble speaking and communicating his ideas, impressions and feelings with other people, which most of the time makes him undergo the situation in a passive way Isolated, Ethan lives quietly, never speaking up for himself or voicing his true desires. Page 19, par 3, lines 13-15 Page 21, 1st ph, lines 1-3 When Ethan’s mother was ill, she preferred to be in silent rather than speaking so, this made Ethan spent same time in silent as well as he did not have anyone to talk to. When he met Zeena, he had the hope that she would provide him “music to his ears” after such a silence with his mother (pg. 32, lines 20-22) but finally we know that it does not happen. The same, more or less, happens with Mattie, and again, after the accident they have to return to the house and stay there without speaking as he would like years before. COLOUR RED Throughout the novella no many colours are mentioned but some of them are mainly: white (snow), gray (winter), black (darkness), yellow (light) red (passion) Red evokes passion and seduction Mattie often wears red which makes her stand out against the white background. In particular she wears a crimson hair ribbon on the night of her private dinner. In the two key scenes when Mattie and Ethan are alone together—outside the church after the dance and in the Frome house on the evening of Zeena’s absence—Wharton emphasizes that Mattie wears red. Whenever Ethan thinks of Mattie and compares her to the sun (his light, his hope), the sunset is always red. LIGHT AND DARKNESS Whenever Mattie appears in the novella she is related with light. For example in the party, Ethan comes from the darkness and when approaching Mattie there is more and more light ETC. However, the opposite happens when talking about Ethan that is always behind the darkness.

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ETHAN FROME. MOTIFS AND SYMBOLS. LAURA CASTILLA RODRÍGUEZ

Apart from this, MATTIE can be considered as a symbol by herself, as we have already commented, because she suppose the only hope Ethan has for change: PAG 24 Also is the only way Ethan has to dream, imagine a parallel life with her as if she were his wife PAG 23 THE CAT During their meal alone, and the evening that follows, Ethan and Mattie share the house with the cat, which first breaks Zeena’s pickle dish and then seats itself in Zeena’s rocking chair. The animal serves as a symbol of Zeena’s tacit invisible presence in the house, as a force that comes between Mattie and Ethan, and reminds them of the wife’s existence. PICKLE DISH The breaking of the dish, which is also red and Zeena’s favorite wedding present, symbolizes the disintegration of the Frome’s marriage resulting from his passion for Mattie. GRAVEYARD/GRAVESTONES DEATH is very present in this novella, of course. Apart from Zeena’s disease that is getting worse as the time passes there are also another references to death. When they pass through the graveyard (pag 23) maybe Wharton put the graveyard in a position that Ethan must pass it going to and from his house as a sign of death and how Frome is connected with it because during his life he has acted as a dead person instead of a life one because of the duties he had and how he had to make them: taking care of his mother…

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