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 educated in naturalistic and deterministic philosophies, the tragic life of Ethan Frome is the embodiment of both theories. As Wharton tells the story of Ethan's desperate hopes and attempts to leave his sad life, he uses symbolism and foreshadowing to convince the reader that his doomed fate was sealed from the beginning. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The symbols of Zeena's cat and the scarlet pickle dish are used throughout the story to give a sense 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 night of Zeena's departure, Ethan observes that "The cat, who had been a troubled observer of these unusual movements, jumped into Zeena's chair... and lay watching them with half-closed eyes" (37). Ethan believes that his time with Zeena away is his chance to connect with Mattie. But the cat, symbolizing Zeena's ever-watchful eyes, interrupts their dinner by jumping up and observing them closely. This action is Wharton's way of telling readers that Mattie and Ethan will never have time alone, that Zeena will always be in the way. Zeena's red pickle dish sits on a high shelf and is not disturbed until Mattie takes it and it is broken by the cat. When Zeena finds out, she confronts Mattie and Ethan, who blame the cat until Mattie blurts out that “The cat broke the plate; but I took it from the closet and it's my fault that it broke” (54). Mattie isn't just taking the blame for the dish itself, but also for the destruction of Ethan and Zeena's marriage that the pickle dish represents. On the other hand, here Wharton 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 wedding gift 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 left the room, as if carrying a corpse” (54). Here, the pickle dish is once again symbolic of marriage, but Wharton shows Zeena in mourning, almost as if something had died. After reading the book you know that Zeena and Ethan never separate, but Zeena's actions give readers a strange sense of foreboding about their future as a couple which contributes to their knowledge of Ethan's ever-dark future. Through foreshadowed events such as Mattie and Ethan's accident, Ethan's fate to never leave Starkville, and Mattie's growing resemblance to Zeena, Wharton further convinces the reader that Ethan was doomed from the beginning. The elm tree, often described as “hemlock,” is mentioned throughout the tale as a place of love and danger. While walking with Mattie, Ethan states that “The elm tree is dangerous. It should be torn down” (19). By asking Ethan to warn Mattie about the tree, Wharton foreshadows that this place will ultimately cause irreversible damage to both Ethan and Mattie. This also creates an air of doom, while leading the reader to believe that Ethan will not have a happy ending. Ethan dreams of leaving Starkville very often in the story, but the fate of his ancestors often predicts that this will be impossible. As he walked among the gravestones of his.