How Does Edith Wharton Use Imagery In Ethan Frome

The novel Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, chronicles the life of a mysterious crippled hermit by the name of Ethan Frome as a flashback to his star-crossed relationship from his youth. In the process of relaying this story, Wharton characterizes Frome’s constantly ill-stricken wife as a villainous dead weight to his free spirit. Wharton uses imagery and dialogue in order to paint a lucid picture of Zeena Frome as an older, nagging wife who over-extends Ethan’s patience; additionally, Zeena’s unrelenting ill health serves as a metaphor for her enduring pestilence upon her husband. Wharton’s use of imagery and descriptive language establish a relaxed, wistful atmosphere throughout the novel. However, she starkly contrasts that with the way she describes Zeena, which portrays her villainy as one opposed to the free spirit. Mrs. Frome is repeatedly said …show more content…
Throughout the entire novel, Zeena Frome is consistently afflicted by at least one of a plethora of ailments. These “troubles” are meant to serve as parallels: they are to Zeena as Zeena is to Ethan. This characterizes Zeena’s evil as persistent though not entirely of critical severity, never ending yet barely tolerable. This portrays it as an overwhelming force, overthrown only by a drastic treatment. In Zeena’s case against sickness, this means complete inaction and servitude of a maid; in Ethan’s case against Zeena, which resulted from Zeena’s banishing on Mattie Silver, this means attempting a suicide/ homicide involving him and his unfortunate lover. These actions add another level of relevancy to the metaphor, being that Zeena’s evil will bring other people down along with her. This occurs after the reckless couple attempts thoughtless suicide because of Zeena, which results in both being lowered to Zeena’s level of disability due to debilitating