Corruption In Mattie's Escape

Escape, a theme present though out the novel dominates a scene between Mattie and Ethan, it encompasses the character’s dialogue as well as actions as a motivator to avoid the inevitability of separation. The scene begins after Mattie and Ethan have taken their first sled ride down the hill, Mattie “putting her lips close against [Ethan’s] ear” suggests they sled down the hill one more time with the intention of “never [coming] up again” (70). Mattie’s intention is to make it so Ethan and herself “never have to leave each other”, with her proposal Mattie intends to avoid her and Ethan’s impending separation with an extreme solution and truly the ultimate escape from everything: death (71). Attempting to convince Ethan, Mattie pleads, saying,