Ethan Frome Color Red Analysis
Alexandra Belue
ENG 202-08
Delmar Brewington (Spiros Papleacos)
20 October 2014
The Color Red: Ethan Frome Colors are used throughout novels in order to convey certain messages, tones, and moods. The color red portrays an important message in the novel of Ethan Frome written by Edith Wharton. In contrast to the novel, the color red normally represents passion, love, and happiness. The repetition of the color red in Ethan Frome is more commonly conveyed as dark, gothic, sinfulness, and full of perpetual thoughts. Coincidentally, Wharton used the color red often when Ethan and Mattie Silver are together, which represents how happy he is with her. In the first chapter, the first incident of the color red was mentioned. Mattie Silver, Zeena Frome’s cousin, is mentioned using the color red very often in the story. The color red portrays Mattie’s personality; vibrant and full of life. Ethan tries to find Mattie by searching for the scarlet red scarf she has on (Wharton 14). Ethan is very attracted to her, especially when she is wearing the color red. There are instances in the story where Edith Wharton makes in a point to pull red into the story. There …show more content…
In contrast to Zeena Frome, her cheeks are rosy red and she is always very bubbly (Wharton 38-40). The color red represents the passion that Ethan and Mattie feel together; but always symbolizes the sin and guilt of Ethan having feelings towards Mattie. The blushing of Mattie’s cheeks when Ethan is around represents the love that she has for him. After their first date, and dinner to themselves, Ethan thinks to himself, “their evening together had given him a vision of what life at her side might be, and he was glad now that he had done nothing to trouble the sweetness of the picture” (Wharton 39). The red color represents the guilt that Ethan does not love his wife anymore, and is secretly in love with
ENG 202-08
Delmar Brewington (Spiros Papleacos)
20 October 2014
The Color Red: Ethan Frome Colors are used throughout novels in order to convey certain messages, tones, and moods. The color red portrays an important message in the novel of Ethan Frome written by Edith Wharton. In contrast to the novel, the color red normally represents passion, love, and happiness. The repetition of the color red in Ethan Frome is more commonly conveyed as dark, gothic, sinfulness, and full of perpetual thoughts. Coincidentally, Wharton used the color red often when Ethan and Mattie Silver are together, which represents how happy he is with her. In the first chapter, the first incident of the color red was mentioned. Mattie Silver, Zeena Frome’s cousin, is mentioned using the color red very often in the story. The color red portrays Mattie’s personality; vibrant and full of life. Ethan tries to find Mattie by searching for the scarlet red scarf she has on (Wharton 14). Ethan is very attracted to her, especially when she is wearing the color red. There are instances in the story where Edith Wharton makes in a point to pull red into the story. There …show more content…
In contrast to Zeena Frome, her cheeks are rosy red and she is always very bubbly (Wharton 38-40). The color red represents the passion that Ethan and Mattie feel together; but always symbolizes the sin and guilt of Ethan having feelings towards Mattie. The blushing of Mattie’s cheeks when Ethan is around represents the love that she has for him. After their first date, and dinner to themselves, Ethan thinks to himself, “their evening together had given him a vision of what life at her side might be, and he was glad now that he had done nothing to trouble the sweetness of the picture” (Wharton 39). The red color represents the guilt that Ethan does not love his wife anymore, and is secretly in love with