Although by definition, a classic tragedy occurs when a character's downfall is the direct result of a personality flaw, Edith Wharton's short story Ethan Frome rejects this concept. As a story written by an author trained in naturalistic and deterministic philosophies, the tragic life of Ethan Frome is an embodiment of both theories. As Wharton tells the story of Ethan's desperate hopes and attempts to leave his dreary life behind, she uses symbolism and foreshadowing to convince the reader that his doomed fate was sealed from the start. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayThe symbols of Zeena's cat and the scarlet pickle dish are used throughout the story to provide insight into the fact that Ethan's future has been predetermined. Throughout the story, Zeena's cat is used to symbolize Zeena herself. This is especially prevalent when Zeena leaves and Ethan is left alone with Mattie. While dining with Mattie on the evening of Zeena's departure, Ethan observes that "the cat, who had been a troubled observer of these unusual movements, jumped onto Zeena's chair...and lay there, watching them with narrow eyes” (37). Ethan thinks the time spent with Zeena is his chance to connect with Mattie. But the cat, symbolizing Zeena's ever-watchful eyes, disrupts their dinner by jumping up and observing them closely. This action is Wharton's way of telling readers that Mattie and Ethan will never spend time alone, that Zeena will always be in their way. Zeena's dish of red pickles sits on a high shelf and is not disturbed until Mattie takes it apart and is broken by the cat. When Zeena discovers this, she confronts Mattie and Ethan, who blame the cat until Mattie blurts, “The cat broke the dish; but I got it from the china cupboard, and I am the one responsible for its breakage” (54). Mattie is not only responsible for the dish itself, but also for the destruction of Ethan and Zeena's marriage that the pickle dish represents. On the other hand, Wharton here tells readers that while the cat - Zeena - is responsible for the initial destruction, Mattie was the straw that broke the camel's back for both the pickle dish - a gift wedding for Zeena and Mattie - and for the wedding itself. When Zeena finally leaves the room, Wharton describes her as “…picking up the pieces of broken glass as she walked out of the room as if carrying a corpse” (54). Here the pickle dish once again symbolizes marriage, but Wharton shows Zeena grieving, almost as if something had died. After reading the book, it is known that Zeena and Ethan never separate, but Zeena's actions give readers a strange foreboding about their future as a couple which contributes to their knowledge of Ethan's ever-darker future. Ethan. Through foreshadowed events such as Mattie and Ethan's accident. , Ethan's fate of never leaving Starkville, and Mattie's growing similarity to Zeena, Wharton further convinces the reader that Ethan was doomed from the start. The elm, often described as "hemlock", is mentioned throughout the novel as a place of both love and danger. While walking with Mattie, Ethan says, “The elm is dangerous. It should be reduced”(19). By having Ethan warn Mattie about the tree, Wharton foreshadows that this place will eventually cause irreversible damage to Ethan and Mattie. It also creates an air of doom, while also hinting at the reader with the idea that Ethan will not have a happy ending. Ethan very often dreams of.