Winter Ethan example essay topic

Man is constantly influenced the by the environment around him. This environment consists of many things, however climate and weather seem to have the most affect on human actions. Changes in temperature and season change the way people conduct their lives. Whether it is something as simple as dressing more warmly or less warmly or something as serious as hypothermia or frostbite society is controlled by the weather. In this way the seasons have to come represent different things in many cultures. Spring is seen as a time of birth, summer is seen as a time of growth and autumn is seen as a time of change and preparation.

Winter however symbolizes the more harsh things that exist in human lives. In the novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton the winters of Starkfield represent failure, death or physical pain and isolation. One of winter's many meanings in the novel comes in the form of failure. Every winter spent in Starkfield comes to remind the main character of Edith Wharton's book, Ethan of his failures. Ethan had hoped to one day become an engineer and complete his degree at the university in Florida. The winters of Starkfield took their toll upon Ethan's wife and it soon became impossible for them to leave.

The farm barely earned Ethan the money to survive and consequently Ethan could not return to Florida with or without his wife Zeena. The winters in many ways caused the failures of Ethan's hopes and dreams. The point is brought up in the novel that 'it would not have happened if his mother had not died in the spring instead of the winter... ' (35). Perhaps if Ethan's mother had not died during the winter Ethan would have moved away from Starkfield but in the end he failed to accomplish this. Not only did Ethan fail in becoming an engineer but he failed also in changing his life by leaving Starkfield with Mattie Silver, Zeena's cousin.

The only good to enter into Ethan's life came in the form of Mattie who came to live with them in order to help Zeena. Ethan fell in love with Mattie and hoped to create a new life for the both of them. Ethan with little money and concerned for what might happen to Zeena if he abandoned her in the dead of winter failed to leave Starkfield with Mattie. The winter both causes many failures and symbolizes the many failures of Ethan's life. Death and physical pain also come to be symbolized by the harsh Starkfield winters. During the winter Ethan's mother died, this kept Ethan in Starkfield as previously said, and if perhaps she had died in the spring Ethan would have lead life as an engineer.

She did however die that winter, Ethan became tied down in Starkfield and ended up marrying Zeena out of loneliness. The harshness of Starkfield, perhaps the winter or possibly the isolation led to Zeena's sickliness. Zeena's unceasing ailments eventually wear down Ethan forcing them to take in Mattie to help out with the chores. Mattie seems to be the only piece of color in a black and white world, as her vivaciousness and character contrast to the bleak life Ethan lives. Eventually however the winter ends up ruining both Ethan and Mattie.

Rather than have to part they decide to commit suicide by coasting into the large elm tree. Their plans for suicide do not work out and they both survive suffering horrendous injuries. Mattie's spirit is eventually broken by her injuries and she becomes as bitter as Zeena once was and Ethan is once again a down trodden man. The winter seems to ruin all the life that enters Starkfield allowing only for escape through a long slow death.

Isolation becomes yet another synonym for Starkfield winters. Ethan ended up marrying Zeena to escape the loneliness and solitude of winter. Though the marriage solved the problem of being isolated for the time being the relationship eventually led to an emotional isolation. Zeena was constantly sick and did not provide Ethan with the emotional attachment he needed.

Without the compassion of a loving wife Ethan became emotionally detached. Upon Mattie's arrival Ethan slowly realized his feelings for Mattie and rose out of his emotional separation. Ethan began reaching out for the affection he longed for but this process took a while before Ethan finally expressed his feelings to Mattie. Ironically Ethan and Mattie's relationship seems to isolate them all after their accident. Although Zeena seemed to recover from her spell of illness she had to care for Mattie and Ethan was forced to provide for the three of them. The story end's for them in isolation, however they are in a way alone but in each other's company.

In the novel, Ethan Frome, winter seems to be the manifestation of all things that tend to plague the human heart. The evil or malignant depiction of winter might have been the intent of Edith Wharton or it could be a misinterpretation of the novel. Winter, the seasons and nature are in truth indifferent to the plight of man. Blame may be placed upon things that have no true identity because it is human nature to shift blame.

Society in general finds it easier to blame what is not understood. Perhaps instead of shifting blame, the fault should be put onto the shoulders of those who do the shifting. Rather than blame something else the initiative should be taken to act at the appropriate time instead of resigning into complacency. Life is the responsibility of the person who lives it and in the end the decisions that are or are not made effect the outcome of the individual's life.