A symbol is an object, character, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Edith Wharton includes several different symbols throughout her novel, Ethan Frome. She uses symbols to show the relationship of one object to a life situation. Wharton uses an elm tree, a cat, a rocking chair, and a pickle dish as some of her symbols in this novel. There were two occasions where Wharton uses a elm tree as a symbol. The elm tree in this novel symbolizes as death/danger. In the begging of the novel Ethan had a “smash-up” with an elm causing him to have a gash on his forehead and warping of his right side. (1) Then again near the end of the novel, Ethan decided to listen to Mattie and sled into an elm causing a big collision. Mrs.Hale
