Imagery in Ethan Frome Essay Example

devoid of life and destructive.

The marriage between Ethan and Zeena is unproductive, as they have no children. However, Mattie brings liveliness to their barren union, much like the springtime. Mattie is often compared to nature, with her mind resembling a bird in the branches and her hair like certain mosses on warm slopes. Yet, even in the moments they share, the coldness of winter and the presence of Zeena constantly loom over them. Winter and spring, or in this case Zeena and Mattie, are opposing forces that affect not only each other but also Ethan. This reaches its climax when Ethan considers leaving with Mattie. As he gazes at the bright slopes and the dark woods with silver edges, as well as the hills with a spectral purple against the sky, he feels as though all the night's beauty is there to taunt his misery. This line is particularly powerful as it combines Zeena's wintry strength and sadness with the undeniable beauty that Mattie brings into Ethan's life. Ethan finds himself at a crossroads, torn between these two forces that coexist somewhat peacefully yet pull him in opposite directions.

The night's beauty, reflected through the snow, serves as a strong reminder of Ethan's entrapment. Another use of winter imagery occurs during Ethan and Mattie's trip together, which includes an attempted suicide. As they make their way to the train station, they make a detour to a small beach where they had shared a moment before. Upon arrival, Ethan immediately observes the impact of winter on their "secret spot". He scans the pebbly beach until he spots a fallen tree-trunk partially submerged in snow. This tree-trunk marks

the spot where they had happily sat together the previous summer for a picnic, but now it's completely covered in snow, overshadowed by Zeena's threatening presence. Despite this momentary acknowledgment, Ethan quickly moves on to other thoughts, showing his familiarity with the power of winter. The transformation of a once vibrant place into a desolate and bleak one seems to have little effect on him. After briefly recalling this shared memory, they return to the cart to continue their journey.

The two characters have a heartfelt moment, expressing their love and desperation, before coming across some children sledding. Taking turns sledding themselves, Mattie insists that Ethan take them down a hill to the coast, hoping to avoid their problems forever. This symbolizes how participating in a winter activity ultimately leads to their downfall, which aligns with the prologue's ideas and adds an element of dramatic irony for the reader. As they approach the elm tree, Ethan remembers Zeena's face and swerves off course, causing their plan to fail. Zeena's face appears distorted and monstrous, merging with the damaged elm tree influenced by winter. Ultimately, all three main characters must surrender to the forces of the harsh Starkfield winters, both symbolically and literally. Despite their attempts to escape their constraints, they are unable to avoid the inevitable changing of seasons.