... Zeena, and regretted it. He wished to move to the big cities where he could leave his troubles behind. Then, he fell in love with Mattie Silver, his second cousin, and forgot about Zeena, leaving her cooped up in their farmhouse constantly grieving for her husband. As Ethan and ... in the neighborhood where stricken animals pined ." She was sick and needed someone that could do her fair share of work, and Mattie was not cutting it. She wanted so to get rid of Mattie, for the troublesome girl was careless and mean, not caring for Zeena in the slightest, leaving her to pine on the lonesom...

• Word Count: 879
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . Throughout the novel, the setting represents both the character's moods, and the characters themselves. Setting is constantly used to describe Mattie. Mattie is, quite often, compared to spring, a symbol of life. Mattie comes to Starkfield in the springtime. When she comes, she becomes Ethan's reason for living. She is really the only life ... in the household, because Zeena is sick, and Ethan is unhappy. Mattie is also described with the color red. She has a red scarf, red ribbon in her hair, a red bedspread, and red lips and cheeks. The ... symbolic of life and love, as Ethan falls ...

• Word Count: 275
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... , 23 years in the past, waiting outside of a church dance for his wife's cousin. Mattie Silver arrives in Starkfield to assist Ethan in caring for Zeena as her health declines. With her grace, beauty and vigor, Mattie embodies everything that Zeena is not, becoming Ethan's motive of escape from confinement. Ethan is a ... Wharton personifies the house cat as Zeena when her body is unavailable. When Zeena takes her trip to the doctors for 2 days, Ethan and Mattie use this opportunity have a romantic date together, "alone", but in reality theyre never going to be alone as long as Zeenas cat...

• Word Count: 1140
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School