Ethan Frome Questions

1. The symbolism of the light of Matties candle and the darkness of the Fromes room is that the light represents hope and love that Ethan desires which Zeena does not have. The darkness of Zeena is what is in the way of Ethans love for Mattie. 2. Ethan feels a dread in Zeenas silence on this particular morning because Ethans mind becomes preoccupied with Mattie. He regrets not kissing her the wickedness before and his thinks close the relationship between Zeena and Mattie which has been weird lately. 3. Zeenas sudden decision to see a in the altogether doctor on this particular morning is unusual.Ethan dreads her decision because of the cost of the medications she will get. He welcomes her decision because this is the first time Zeena will be away for the night and him and Mattie will be alone together. 4. Ethans excuse for not driving Zeena to the flats is that he needs to go collect the cash from Andrew Hale upon his delivery of a load of wood that afternoon. Chapter 4 1. Ethans fantasy about the kitchen was that him and Mattie would sit together, one on each side of the stove he would be ingest his pipe and she would be laughing and talking in the funny way she did. 2.Zeenas arrival affects Ethan because it made him feel less lonely. Fearing the return of his loneliness when his make died, Ethan asked Zeena to marry him. 3. Ethans motives for remaining on the farm were that he wanted to sell the farm and saw-mill and try moving to a larger town because he had always wanted to be an engineer. He thought that with a smart wife the likes of Zeena it would be easy for him to make a place for himself. 4. The situations on the farm life and home life affected Ethan because he was never able to sell his farm and his wife had become so sick that completely his hopes were crushed and he could never live his dream. . Ruth and Ned contrast Ethan and Mattie because Ruth and Ned are engaged and can show their love for each other in public and they can share their ha ppiness. On the other hand, Ethan and Mattie have such a thirst for each other in their hearts (Wharton 69). They cannot show their feelings to anyone. 6. As Ethan heads towards the farm, the atmosphere reflects his feelings because it is a thick fleecy sky threatening snow for the next day and Ethan is feeling down as well. 7.Ethans actions and Matties style at the door contrast the events of the previous evening. In the previous evening, Zeena had stood with the lamp looking bony and unattractive. This time, Mattie had a lifted lamp in her hand and had a crimson laurel in her hair. 8. Zeenas cat is intrusive and very symbolic. The cat jumps up onto the table, breaking a pickle bagful. Its actions symbolize Zeenas invisible presence. Its like a force that comes between Mattie and Ethan and reminds them of Zeenas existence. 9.Matties concern about the scummy pickle dish is caused by her remembering that Zeena told her to never use that dish because it was Zeenas favorite wedding present. 10. Ethan feels a thrilling sense of mastery because he helped solve the problem for Mattie and made her feel better about causation the accident to happen. Chapter 5 1. Zeenas cat and the rocking chair are further reminders of Zeena. When Mattie sits down on Zeenas cat, Ethan sees the specter of Zeenas face to have appeared in place of Matties features.He begins to feel uneasy and Mattie leaves and goes back to where she was sitting before. Then the cat takes its spot on Zeenas chair. 2. The reference to the elm foreshadows a ulterior action. Ethan says that theres an ugly corner down by the big elm (Wharton 80). He is scared because if you dont keep your eyes string out you would crash right into it while sledding. 3. Mattie says Nobody can tell with Zeena, she is referring to what Zeena thinks of her and how she wants Mattie to get married. Chapter 6 1. Ethans morning joy is contradicted by the frustrations of the day.He sends Jotham to pick up Zeena at the train sta tion but one of the horses slips on the ice and cuts its knee, and the sleety rain makes loading the logs difficult. Ethan heads to the Eady store to look for glue to fix Zeenas broken dish, but he cant find any there. He then goes to widow Honans store and finds one last bottle of glue. 2. Ethan wonders what happened in the drive to nerve Jotham to such stoicism. He thinks that maybe Zeena wasnt able to see the new doctor or didnt like something about what the doctor did and she usually blames her grievances on the first person she meets.