Characterization In Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton
In her novella, Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton uses characterization to indicate that Mattie Silver is lively and innocent, which is refreshing to Ethan Frome after managing Zenobia’s sickliness and bothersome personality. Mattie’s last name, Silver, compares her character to the precious metal: bright, valuable, and a luxury. Ethan greatly values being in her presence, as “no moments in her company were comparable to those when [...] they walked back through the night to the farm” (Wharton 13). Additionally, just as silver reflects light, Mattie is cheerful enough to reflect her joy onto Ethan.
Furthermore, Wharton characterizes Mattie as the archetypical Snow White, including “a cloud of dark hair about her forehead” and “dark eyes” (Wharton
13). Therefore, the reader may draw connections and recognize Mattie’s beauty and naïvity, and grasp Ethan’s consideration of her as an aesthetically pleasing object. Moreover, the appearance of warm description for Mattie, as Ethan feels “her warmth in his veins” and walking with her makes him feel “as if they were floating on a summer steam” (Wharton 21), contrasts the barren, cold environment of Starkfield, further implies her warmhearted essence in Ethan’s miserable, hollow life with Zeena.
Overall, Wharton’s thorough description of Mattie as a source of brightness and warmth indicates that she is a fire lit within Ethan’s frigid heart. While Zeena is cold and distant, Mattie sparks a new emotion in Ethan which he has not felt before. Suddenly, Mattie Silver has given Ethan a light in the darkness in his once hopeless life.
Furthermore, Wharton characterizes Mattie as the archetypical Snow White, including “a cloud of dark hair about her forehead” and “dark eyes” (Wharton
13). Therefore, the reader may draw connections and recognize Mattie’s beauty and naïvity, and grasp Ethan’s consideration of her as an aesthetically pleasing object. Moreover, the appearance of warm description for Mattie, as Ethan feels “her warmth in his veins” and walking with her makes him feel “as if they were floating on a summer steam” (Wharton 21), contrasts the barren, cold environment of Starkfield, further implies her warmhearted essence in Ethan’s miserable, hollow life with Zeena.
Overall, Wharton’s thorough description of Mattie as a source of brightness and warmth indicates that she is a fire lit within Ethan’s frigid heart. While Zeena is cold and distant, Mattie sparks a new emotion in Ethan which he has not felt before. Suddenly, Mattie Silver has given Ethan a light in the darkness in his once hopeless life.