Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton allows the symbols in the book to convey her reoccurring theme in this novel. One of these reoccurring themes is, Society and Morality as obstacles to the fulfillment of desire. This conflict occurs between his passions and the constraints placed on him by society, which control his conscience and impede his fulfillment of his passions. The symbols Edith Wharton has placed through out the novel is able to bring up this reoccurring theme of Ethan's passions and constraints placed on him by society. Also even though Ethan's wife leaves during the novel her present is still felt very strongly though out the house though symbols Edith Wharton had placed in the novel.
One of the most important symbols in the novel is Ethan's final sled run. Ethan's decision to coast in his final sled run symbolizes his inability to escape his dilemma through action of any kind. The decision parallels Ethan's agreement to Mattie's death wish, his conduct in his marriage, and his attitude toward life in general: unable to face the consequences of any decision, he lets external circumstances "other individuals, society, convention, financial constraints "make his decisions for him. Mattie's death wish appears especially appealing to Ethan in that it entirely eliminates all consequences for both of them, forever. Just as the rider of a sled relinquishes control, so Ethan surrenders his destiny to the whims of Mattie and of fate's. This is able to relate to the theme of Society and Morality as Obstacles to the Fulfillment of Desire. Ethan sees that the only way that he will ever be with Mattie is if they both die. The conflict occurs between his passions and the constraints placed on him by society, which control his conscience and impede his fulfillment of his passions. Since society would not accept him if he were to leave Zeena for Mattie. This conflict occurs between his passions and the constraints placed on him by society, which control his conscience and impede his fulfillment of his passions.
