According to the Microsoft Word Encarta dictionary, juxtaposition consists of placing two or more things, side by side, in order to emphasize the contrasts and similarities between them. Edith Wharton deliberately places the characters Mattie Silver and Zeena Frome together in the novel Ethan Frome to compare and contrast them. Although Mattie was only recently exposed to Starkfield, Zeena has lived there for seven despondent years. Wharton's intention was to accustom the reader to seeing Zeena and Mattie in such a harsh comparison, thus making the climatic ending extremely ironic. Throughout the novel, Wharton emphasizes Zeena and Mattie's character characteristics, such as their physical appearance, which creates conflict in the women's interactions with Ethan and consequently with each other, until ironically, the two characters merge and become one. Despite the common cliché, ? don't judge a book by its cover, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, most first impressions come from looks. Edith Wharton harshly juxtaposes Mattie and Zeena's appearances, to the point where it almost seems biased. From the beginning of the novel, Zeena is portrayed as old and “repugnant”? (46) housewife. Substantial background information is not provided, nor the reasons why it is exhausted and "bloodless". (53) behavior. “Although she was only seven years older than her husband, she was already an old woman.” (53) In harsh comparison, Mattie is depicted as a young and vivacious woman, but of natural beauty. This drastic juxtaposition is black and white, with no gray areas, just strong Mattie and weak Zeena. However, the colors used to describe Mattie and Zeena are not black and white, each of them... middle of paper ... tie so sweet and caring, it was for readers to feel sympathy for Ethan, who is committed to Zeena for life. Wharton did the ending, when Zeena and Mattie become one, ironically, through the use of juxtaposition and creating characters with significant differences between them. Wharton possessing the art of juxtaposition added depth and irony to the book, but when the reader realizes his underlying purpose, Ethan Frome and Mattie Silver no longer deserve the sympathy they received throughout the book. Zeena, throughout the book, has been looked at too harshly, without realizing the underlying reasons for her ugliness and depression, and deserves the readers' sympathy. This book expresses many insightful stories about the life of Ethan Frome, but it is the ideas that Wharton does not mention and the secrets she has kept from the reader that affect the perception of the characters..