Symbols in Ethan Frome

Sex, lies and deceit. These three things argon what this novel is about. besides it is so much more than that. In the book Ethan Frome, written by Edith Wharton, the author uses symbolism to represent many things much(prenominal) as death. Symbols such as Zeenas rose-cheeked pickle provide, the cold season of winter, and the late(prenominal) cuke vine any represent important parts that make up this novel. Zeenas red pickle viewer is a dish Zeena treasures most. She genuine the pickle dish as a wedding present and only if uses the dish on special occasions. Mattie uses the pickle dish the night her and Ethan are al i, while Zeena is out of town.The cat accidently breaks the dish during the dinner. And gathering up the bits of grim glass she went out of the room as if she carried a dead bole (Wharton 66). At this point, Zeena was re all toldy mad when she found out herself that the dish was miserable and no one told her. This gave her another reason to hate Ethan and Matti e even more. The dish breaking symbolizes the marriage between Ethan and Zeena was now broken. Ethan Frome takes place in Starkfield, mommy during the cold winter months. Winter controls over the tragedy in all its signs of snow, wind, cold and darkness.Winter is the worst season for Ethan. In the beginning, Harmon Gow had said, Guess hes been in Starkfield too many winters. Most of the smart ones come in away (Wharton 2). Ethan studied science and technology after high school, just now after his father died and his mother became sick, he was forced to come approve to his hometown of Starkfield. Responsibility for his mother and poverty has prevented him from leaving. Sadly, Ethans mother died in the winter. afterwards his mothers death, Ethan married Zeena because he was so lonely all the time.Winter is symbolizes isolation and loneliness. Last but not least, the dead cucumber vine vine. A dead cucumber vine dangled from the porch like the crape streamer fasten to the door fo r a death, and the thought flashed through Ethans brain If it was in that respect for Zeena- (Wharton 26). Ethan wished Zeena was dead. If Zeena was not alive, Ethan could be with Mattie and they both would be happy together. They wouldnt submit to hide their love for each other. The dead cucumber vine symbolizes death and withal symbolizes dying souls that live in the Fromes house.In this case is Zeena, who is the lento dying soul living in the house because of her illness. Zeenas red pickle dish, winter, and the dead cucumber vine are all important symbols in this novel. Understanding these symbols make this novel more interesting now that one knows what some objects symbolizes. Such as Zeenas pickle dish, the broken dish is a symbol for the shattering of Ethan and Zeenas marriage. The winter represents loneliness. The dead cucumber represents death. These three things best represent the story of Ethan Frome.