Ethan Frome is lead by desire however controlled by duty. Ethan is a self-contradicting character. Ethan is firm and strong, however Ethan is also feeble and weak. Ethan desires Mattie however he is bound to his duty as a husband and tradition to Zeena. Ethan is strong in that he sticks to his duty, but Ethan shows his weakness when he is manipulated by Zeena. I find the season of winter to be a symbol for Ethan. A reference coming from the Dictionary of Symbols by Jack Tresidder defines the season of winter; "Winter may appear as an old man by a fire or a bare-headed woman in a winter landscape. It is