The Love Triangle In Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton

The novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is based on a complicated love triangle between the main characters. Ethan and his wife Zenobia also referred to as Zeena, is the caretaker of his mother who he only got married to because he did not want to be alone for the rest of his life after his mother passes. Their marriage begins to go downhill when Zeena became terribly ill. Ethan then meets Zeena’s cousin, Mattie who come to take care of her as Ethan and her fall in love behind Zeena's back. Zeena soon find out but tries everything in her power to keep her and Ethan's marriage stable but it does not seem to work. In the novel Ethan Frome, the color red appears in a lot of items that symbolize Ethan and Zeena loveless marriage, such as the
Ethan tried to help glue the pieces back together but it is not working. When Ethan insist on gluing back the pickle dish, this can be seen as him trying to keep their marriage stable but it does not work. Zeena became furious and automatically blames Mattie because she feels as though she is personally trying to attack her and destroy everything she ever loved. She also feels that Mattie is trying to break off her marriage like she broke the pickle dish. A article states, “you waited till my was turned and took the thing I set most store by of anything I've got..” (Wharton 72). At this point in the novel, Zeena has had enough of Mattie trying to ruin her marriage and wishes she would leave. The red pickle dish shattering symbolizes Mattie and Ethan’s relationship is falling apart. “When Zeena discovered the broken pickle dish she was even more determined to have Mattie out the house.” (Evans1). After the incident with the pickle dish Zeena is fed up with Mattie ruining her marriage and wants her to leave her and Ethan
The color red plays a major role seeking out the symbols that their marriage is dissolving more and more as Ethan and Mattie are continuously fall in love with one another. As one tries to find happiness in another women the other is left behind trying to maintain her marriage with her unfaithful husband. In the end it leaves off with a twist after the both of them attempting suicide so they could be together but it fails and leaves them crippled with Zeena as their