What does Mattie represent in Ethan Frome?
With her grace, beauty, and vitality, she obviously embodies everything that he feels Zeena has denied him, and so becomes the focus of his aborted rebellion against his unhappy life. Mattie is distinguished by little other than the red decoration she wears, which symbolizes both passion and transgression.
Does Ethan Frome like Mattie?
Zeena’s cousin, who comes to assist the Fromes with their domestic tasks. Attractive, young, and energetic, Mattie becomes the object of Ethan’s affection, and reciprocates his infatuation.
What happens to Mattie in Ethan Frome?
Their aborted suicide attempt transforms Mattie forever. As a result of the accident, Mattie is paralyzed from the neck down. At the time of the Epilogue, she has lived with the Fromes and been cared for by Zeena for over twenty years.
How does Ethan feel about Mattie?
Because Ethan never talks to Mattie about his feelings for her, he is unsure of her feelings for him. He agonizes, wondering if Mattie could ever love him. When he is around Mattie, Ethan feels a sense of mastery. For example, he feels protective of Mattie; he feels authoritative, important, and needed.
Why is Zeena unhappy with Mattie?
Why is Zeena so dissatisfied with Mattie? How does this dissatisfaction affect zeenas behavior towards her? she is dissatisfied because she is still having to help out around the house Mattie isn’t doing everything. She is really mean to Mattie.
Why does Ethan hide from Mattie?
As Chapter 1 begins, Ethan is going into town to walk Mattie Silver home from a dance at the church. Instead of going into the church, Ethan hides in the shadows near a window and watches Mattie dance with Denis Eady. His jealousy prompts Ethan to recall some of the qualities that make Mattie precious to him.
What was Ethan Frome smash up?
After financial circumstances and propriety prevent Ethan and Mattie from running away together, they attempt double suicide by crashing their sled into a tree, so they’d “never have to leave each other any more.” Spoiler alert: The “smash-up,” as it’s referred to, permanently injures Ethan and leaves Mattie paralyzed, …
What happens to Ethan and Mattie at the end?
Instead of finding escape in suicide, he and Mattie have ended up in a state of living death, in which all Mattie’s vitality has been leeched away, and she has transformed into a carbon copy of her former opposite, Zeena.