Color Red in Ethan Frome

Ethan looks on as “…a girl who had already wound a cherry-coloured ‘fascinator’ about her head, and, leading her up to the end of the floor, whirled her down its length to the bounding tune of a Virginia reel”(16). The cherry-colored fascinator symbolizes the exhilarating time these young people who are dancing are having as Ethan stares on in his sad, grey world. He wants to go out there and dance, but his life is different from theirs. “Frome’s heart was beating fast. He had been straining for a glimpse of the dark head under the cherry-coloured-scarf and it vexed another eye should have been quicker than his”(16). Here we see the scarf as a wall between these two people. The mere sight of the young woman’s face enlivens Ethan.

After a romantic walk home, Ethan and Mattie walk up to the Frome house with their arms locked together, and smiles on their faces. Suddenly, Zeena opens the door to see the two of them sharing a pleasant moment together, and at that moment, Mattie enters the home, and removes her red scarf. “Mattie came forward, unwinding her wraps, the colour of the cherry scarf in her fresh lips and cheeks”(28).

That next evening Zeena returns and discovers the red pickle dish as she looks for her medicine in her secret place. “…gathering up the bits of broken glass she went out of the room as if she carried a dead body…”(63).

As the story ends, Ethan and Mattie decide to consummate their love by committing suicide. As Mattie takes a seat on the sled in front of Ethan, her red hat tumbles into the piercing snow. If Mattie had taken off her hat, then the scene would have symbolized Mattie giving up on her love, and knowing her and Ethan will never find happiness. Yet, in the end, Mattie and Ethan are unaware of the outcome of the dismal life they will live.

Chapter Three starts with good weather and beautiful skies. “The sunrise burned red in a pure sky, the shadows on the rim of the wood-lot were darkly blue, and beyond the white and scintillating fields patches of far-off forest hung like smoke”(28-29). This symbolizes hope and fervor because soon Zeena will leav

Some topics in this essay:
Ethan Mattie, Silver Zeena’s, Mattie Ethan, Mattie Silver, Suddenly Zeena, Edith Wharton, Ethan Mattie's, Zeena Ethan’s, ethan mattie, Ethan Fire, Ethan Frome, red pickle dish, pickle dish, mattie ethan, red sunset, symbol passion, red pickle, ethan frome, mattie silver,