The 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.

Fire is used as a symbol of the passion and life that Mattie Sil

The hope of Ethan and Mattie's romance diminishes after Ethan realizes it will be impossible for him to run off with her, but he does anyhow. On page 75, the sun reddens the scenery as Ethan and Mattie drive along places with memories they both shared over the past year. He sees the spot where they had a picnic, sat and drank coffee, and found her gold locket. “You were as pretty as a picture in that pink hat”(76). Pink, being another shade of red, may be the feeling of love he felt while spending that picnic day with Mattie.

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.

Ethan plans to go coasting with Mattie the next night. Her cheeks burn with a redness after being asked if she would be scared to go down Corbury road with Ethan on a night as dark as that night. She replies, “I ain’t any more scared than you are!”(45) This occurrence describes the enthusiasm in there conversation. Mattie blushes at the excitement of sledding down a dark road with her arms wrapped ar

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