Throughout the story, winter plays a key role. It is said to be a "stifiling force." Many say that the characters have come to represent to the winter. Use specific examples and/or quotes from the book that back up this statement
Certainly, Ethan Frome has been affected by the Starkfield winters as he has had to weather through the cold isolation for many years. The narrator notices that Ethan "seemed a part of the mute melancholy landscape, an incarnation of its frozen woe" (13), meaning that Ethan is a manifestation of sorts of the winter and its loneliness. This is important as the narrator also points out that Ethan's present condition is not a result of his tragic sled accident, but rather "the profound accumulated cold of so many Starkfield winters" (13). Therefore, we can extend Ethan's sordid state to both Mattie and Zeena because the fact that Mattie also directly suffered the same accident and that Zeena indirectly suffered as well, has nothing to do with their loneliness. Rather, like Ethan, they too are isolated because of the winter, the deteriorating cold, and the bleak, barren landscape.
Ethan is seen as having, "spent too many winters in Starkfield." The winter apparently has made everyone lethargic and in a constant state of bitterness. It's as if there's no hope for spring anymore, and they'll be stuck in a frozen wasteland for eternity. "One would have supposed that such an atmosphere must quicken the emotions, as well as the blood; but it seemed to produce no change except still more the sluggish pulse of Starkfield." (9) And Ethan is no exception to that mentality. He feels trapped in his marriage with Zeena, and does very little that is productive to end it. He really does no more in the novel than complain about his fate to Mattie and unhelpfully flirt with her. It most likely just a product of the stagnant atmosphere, but Ethan is as frozen as the winter.
Winter is very symbolic of Zeena and the void of life that surrounds her. Zeena was dreary and lifeless, which is why she is often seen as symbolizing winter. Ethan could not stand being around her because she drained all hope from him. Sprightly Mattie, on the other hand, was symbolic of spring - all the memories Ethan has with her, such as the picnic, occur during spring, a time of bloom and new life. Unfortunately, this does not last, and like a parasitic vine, Zeena corrupts Mattie into a copy of herself, leaving Ethan with two "winters" to deal with at once.
Your comments are lovely. The winters in Starkfield inexorably deteriorate the spirit of each character in the story. Even Mattie is eventually worn down to a bitter shell. Another symbol other than the winter is the color red. If you haven't posted yet, answer this prompt: Discuss the color red in the context of the novel's theme.
The color red plays a subtle but vital role in "Ethan Frome." Mattie is constantly depicted as "rosy" with red lips and flushed cheeks. Within Mattie, red could represent youth and joy brought by the strong feelings of affection and love that drive the story. Even the horses that allow Ethan his way of life are a red tone of "bay" or a red equine color. All in all red seems to indicate a mixture of youth and obligatation as Mattie is Ethan's one escape from his resigned future and the horses, a remindered of his place within his world.
Red is a symbol of life and vitality in Ethan Frome. When Mattie comes to Starkfield, she brings life (and the color red) with her. And from this vitality springs hope. However, in addition, red can symbolize sin, infidelity, and temptation- all three of which Mattie embodies. In the end, though, winter stifles the bright red. Hope is lost along with any chance of infidelity and temptation. Mattie, once the embodiment of red, is now a reflection of winter.
The color red could also symbolize innocence, especially in conjunction with Mattie. While her physical appearance to Ethan is primarily "rosy" she is still innocent in their relationship. But as their bond strengthens and develops into something more she looses this feature, thus equating her life also as a Starkfeild winter. Red also represents desire. Ethan’s endless desire for Mattie before the accident was unmistakable and occasionally overbearing.
Gary, right on Ethan really IS winter Yousra, winter does affect every citizen in Starkfield David - good job of characterizing Zeena and Mattie according to the seasons Ray - super motivational commment Mary - I like how you tied color into the horses Diana - nice job showing how color and winter in Mattie came together Grace - interesting comment about "rosy" rather than red
Just as the author implies that Ethan's melancholy personality stems from his spending "one too many winters in Starkfield" and he uses the winter to represent Ethan, he also uses Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena to represent the winter. Ethan is like the winter in the way that he is always where you expect him to be and doing what is expected of him., just are surely as the winter comes after the fall every year. Mattie is transformed the most by the cold, harsh winters, for she arrives bright in comparison to Ethan's and Zeena's lives, but in the end it is Mattie who comes up with the idea of suicide. Just as the winter has effected Ethan's and Zeena's views on life throughout their entire lives spent in Starkfield, it has the same negative effect on the once-upbeat Mattie.
10 comments:
Certainly, Ethan Frome has been affected by the Starkfield winters as he has had to weather through the cold isolation for many years. The narrator notices that Ethan "seemed a part of the mute melancholy landscape, an incarnation of its frozen woe" (13), meaning that Ethan is a manifestation of sorts of the winter and its loneliness. This is important as the narrator also points out that Ethan's present condition is not a result of his tragic sled accident, but rather "the profound accumulated cold of so many Starkfield winters" (13). Therefore, we can extend Ethan's sordid state to both Mattie and Zeena because the fact that Mattie also directly suffered the same accident and that Zeena indirectly suffered as well, has nothing to do with their loneliness. Rather, like Ethan, they too are isolated because of the winter, the deteriorating cold, and the bleak, barren landscape.
Ethan is seen as having, "spent too many winters in Starkfield." The winter apparently has made everyone lethargic and in a constant state of bitterness. It's as if there's no hope for spring anymore, and they'll be stuck in a frozen wasteland for eternity. "One would have supposed that such an atmosphere must quicken the emotions, as well as the blood; but it seemed to produce no change except still more the sluggish pulse of Starkfield." (9) And Ethan is no exception to that mentality. He feels trapped in his marriage with Zeena, and does very little that is productive to end it. He really does no more in the novel than complain about his fate to Mattie and unhelpfully flirt with her. It most likely just a product of the stagnant atmosphere, but Ethan is as frozen as the winter.
Winter is very symbolic of Zeena and the void of life that surrounds her. Zeena was dreary and lifeless, which is why she is often seen as symbolizing winter. Ethan could not stand being around her because she drained all hope from him. Sprightly Mattie, on the other hand, was symbolic of spring - all the memories Ethan has with her, such as the picnic, occur during spring, a time of bloom and new life. Unfortunately, this does not last, and like a parasitic vine, Zeena corrupts Mattie into a copy of herself, leaving Ethan with two "winters" to deal with at once.
Your comments are lovely. The winters in Starkfield inexorably deteriorate the spirit of each character in the story. Even Mattie is eventually worn down to a bitter shell. Another symbol other than the winter is the color red. If you haven't posted yet, answer this prompt: Discuss the color red in the context of the novel's theme.
The color red plays a subtle but vital role in "Ethan Frome." Mattie is constantly depicted as "rosy" with red lips and flushed cheeks. Within Mattie, red could represent youth and joy brought by the strong feelings of affection and love that drive the story. Even the horses that allow Ethan his way of life are a red tone of "bay" or a red equine color. All in all red seems to indicate a mixture of youth and obligatation as Mattie is Ethan's one escape from his resigned future and the horses, a remindered of his place within his world.
Red is a symbol of life and vitality in Ethan Frome. When Mattie comes to Starkfield, she brings life (and the color red) with her. And from this vitality springs hope. However, in addition, red can symbolize sin, infidelity, and temptation- all three of which Mattie embodies.
In the end, though, winter stifles the bright red. Hope is lost along with any chance of infidelity and temptation. Mattie, once the embodiment of red, is now a reflection of winter.
-Diana Heriford
The color red could also symbolize innocence, especially in conjunction with Mattie. While her physical appearance to Ethan is primarily "rosy" she is still innocent in their relationship. But as their bond strengthens and develops into something more she looses this feature, thus equating her life also as a Starkfeild winter. Red also represents desire. Ethan’s endless desire for Mattie before the accident was unmistakable and occasionally overbearing.
Gary, right on Ethan really IS winter
Yousra, winter does affect every citizen in Starkfield
David - good job of characterizing Zeena and Mattie according to the seasons
Ray - super motivational commment
Mary - I like how you tied color into the horses
Diana - nice job showing how color and winter in Mattie came together
Grace - interesting comment about "rosy" rather than red
Just as the author implies that Ethan's melancholy personality stems from his spending "one too many winters in Starkfield" and he uses the winter to represent Ethan, he also uses Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena to represent the winter. Ethan is like the winter in the way that he is always where you expect him to be and doing what is expected of him., just are surely as the winter comes after the fall every year. Mattie is transformed the most by the cold, harsh winters, for she arrives bright in comparison to Ethan's and Zeena's lives, but in the end it is Mattie who comes up with the idea of suicide. Just as the winter has effected Ethan's and Zeena's views on life throughout their entire lives spent in Starkfield, it has the same negative effect on the once-upbeat Mattie.
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