Ethan Frome.........?

Question

n the book Mattie breaks the pickle dish when she was told never to use it. The question is "what does the pickle dish play ing th modd when Zeena is home?"

Answer 1

Play ing th modd?  Sorry, if you want your answer in English, you'll have to phrase your question in English.  

   Ok...try sparknotes.com or pinkmonkey.com and click on theme,mood

Answer 2

Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton

Ethan Frome study guides contain a biography of Edith Wharton, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

http://www.bookrags.com/notes/ef/

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/frome/

http://www.novelguide.com/ethanfrome/

http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/t...

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitN...

http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/barr...

http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monk...

Answer 3

"play ing th modd"?  What does that mean?

Answer 4

If you recall, the pickle dish is a wedding present that Zeena never allowed Ethan to use.  The Freudian imputation for this childless couple is that the dish is an emblem of female genitalia (was it not described in suggestive terms), and that Zeena has not consummated her marriage vows.  She also views Mattie Silver as a threat to her dominion over Ethan (which is why she wants her gone); thus when Mattie decides to let Ethan have his favorite food -- pickles, another symbol, in this case a phallic one -- in that bowl, she has usurped Zeena's position in Ethan's affections.  When Zeena returns and discovers the pickle dish, she acts the part of the woman scorned and orders Mattie to leave, setting in motion the tragic chain of events that explain Ethan's physical disability.