Characterization In Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton

In her novella, Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton uses characterization to indicate that Mattie Silver is lively and innocent, which is refreshing to Ethan Frome after managing Zenobia’s sickliness and bothersome personality. Mattie’s last name, Silver, compares her character to the precious metal: bright, valuable, and a luxury. Ethan greatly values being in her presence, as “no moments in her company were comparable to those when [...] they walked back through the night to the farm” (Wharton 13). Additionally, just as silver reflects light, Mattie is cheerful enough to reflect her joy onto Ethan.
Furthermore, Wharton characterizes Mattie as the archetypical Snow White, including “a cloud of dark hair about her forehead” and “dark eyes” (Wharton