Ethan and Mattie are alone together in the house for the night. The author uses this scene to introduce two other symbols that have importance in the story. The first is the housecat, which is symbolic of Zeena’s presence even while she is away. While the two of them were eating supper, the cat jumps in between them in Zeena’s empty chair. When their hands met on the milk jug, the cat knocked over a pickle dish that was on the table. Mattie begins to cry because Zeena had forbidden her to use that dish. This ended whatever romantic they may have pursued. After supper, as Ethan tried to find ways to be closer to Mattie, “the cat, who had been a puzzled observer of these unusual events, jumped up into Zeena’s chair, rolled into a ball, and lay watching them with narrow eyes” (Wharton 37). Attempting to capture a mouse, the cat jumped off the chair and it began to rock, reminding them that Zeena will be rocking in it shortly. It seems as if Zeena shows more affection to the cat than EthanAnother symbol with great significance in this scene is the pickle dish mentioned before. It was a wedding gift that Zeena cherishes although she keeps it stored away in the china-closet and never uses it. The dish is red, which is a color symbolic of love and passion. Just as the dish has been stored away in a closet for many years, so has Ethan and Zeena’s marriage. This dish represents their marriage, since all of the love and passion has been “stored” away for many years. Although Zeena has forbidden Mattie to touch it, she takes it out to serve supper. The dish ends up being shattered during their supper by the cat. This is very symbolic of Ethan and Zeena’s marriage, which has also been shattered after Mattie came in contact with it.As you can see with Ethan Frome, symbols have great significance in literature. Symbolism is a great tool for the author to get across meanings that are difficult to e...
