It is difficult as the reader, to form an attitude for a character in a novel without the author using characterization. Edith Wharton does a marvelous job in illuminating for us, the main character, Ethan Frome. His appearance is constantly depicted throughout the tale. It is altered when interacting with the many unique people that Edith Wharton has created. This is an insight to what Ethan feels for these human beings. In the prologue of this novel, he is seen at the Starksfield post office by a curious and unaccustomed newcomer to the town. Through him, he is described as a "ruin of a man.

As the readers, we understand this through the way the book is written. Thorton Wilder's quote can be understood using the story of Ethan Frome. The author has helped guide us to understanding the messages behind the words, using are characterization, setting, symbolism, alliteration, irony, and imaging. Therefore, we can see that Edith Wharton really make us feel a certain way about the characters and events in her novel.

Two more literary elements used in this tale are irony and imaging. Irony is show at the end of the story when Zeena is taking care of the crippled Mattie. This event is ironic because Mattie ends up being like Zeena. They have a role reversal, and instead of Mattie caring for Zeena, it is the other way around. Yet another example of irony is the pattern of tradition. Ethan's family never got out of Starkfield and neither did he. He was also trapped by the fact that back in Ethan's day you did not challenge tradition. No one got divorced, so with that in mind Ethan had no chance with Mattie. He was miserable in the beginning of the book and wound up miserable at the end too. "He was trapped like a prisoner for life." This quote explains Ethan's position in life. It is an example of the other element, imaging. It is representing how Ethan is stuck in Starkfield just as a prisoner is in jail. Another imagery quote describes the burden of being married to Zeena. "Checking each step like the jerk of a chain." This is illustrating how Ethan walked as though he was chained to his wife and had to stay married. He tells Mattie, "I'm tied hand and foot Matt." The author demonstrates that Ethan is caught in a marriage with Zeena. He is unable to leave it leave it because he is stuck the pattern of tradition. This method has helped the reader see things through the eyes of Ethan.

Another manner in which we can comprehend the characters and events in Ethan Frome is through the setting and symbolism. This allows the reader to get the primary emotion that is bestowed. Life is dreary, and cheerless in Starkfield. For months every year, snow lies heavily on the hills, fields, and villages. People tend to stay indoors and keep to themselves. Everything is dead and sterile. The town surely lives up to its name. It is desolate and its people are poor. However, when Ethan's mood lightens, there is beauty all around. Due to Ethan being more melancholy than he is cheerful, Starkfield seems like a sad and dismal place. There seems to be symbolism between the setting and Ethan. Like the town, he is run-down. Starkfield sits alone in its v

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Approximate Word count = 1745
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)