Art In Literature
by Will Lindsey
by Will Lindsey
Ethan Frome, by Edtih Wharton
Edith Wharton creates this very traditional, but creative scene in which our main character, Ethan Frome equates cooking quality in a woman to the nature of how well a woman will be as a wife. Ethan Frome, wants to become acquainted with an attractive servant girl, whose name is Mattie. However, Mattie lacks the necessary skills of homemaking, which during this time period would imply the conclusive fate of of being a mediocre wife, causing the home to be split. But fortunately, Ethan believes Mattie, with her kindhearted nature, would be a great wife. Ethan is convinced she'd be able to cook a great meal of biscuits and pie, "the pride of the county," if the suitable man came around a was able to woo her.
The biscuits and pie in this particular story symbolize the culture of the town, their way of life, their upbringing. Being able to cook this meal well would imply she'd be a great wife, appealing to many men in the more traditional and virtuous way. Biscuits and pie are also very southern, small town dishes. Their more American and traditional cultural aspects, which decorate a woman with homemaking and maternal embellishments.
Edith Wharton creates this very traditional, but creative scene in which our main character, Ethan Frome equates cooking quality in a woman to the nature of how well a woman will be as a wife. Ethan Frome, wants to become acquainted with an attractive servant girl, whose name is Mattie. However, Mattie lacks the necessary skills of homemaking, which during this time period would imply the conclusive fate of of being a mediocre wife, causing the home to be split. But fortunately, Ethan believes Mattie, with her kindhearted nature, would be a great wife. Ethan is convinced she'd be able to cook a great meal of biscuits and pie, "the pride of the county," if the suitable man came around a was able to woo her.
The biscuits and pie in this particular story symbolize the culture of the town, their way of life, their upbringing. Being able to cook this meal well would imply she'd be a great wife, appealing to many men in the more traditional and virtuous way. Biscuits and pie are also very southern, small town dishes. Their more American and traditional cultural aspects, which decorate a woman with homemaking and maternal embellishments.