Wintery novelette. Cold simplicity. 
 It is beautiful how the text of the classics draws attention to itself only to hurl it back toward the story. The 'wholeness' of the work is its outstanding feature. 
 A cold of many winters has settled on all characters. They fail to change their situations. The two who try fail in committing even suicide. 
 The symbolism is simple but effective. Starkfield is a field of starkness in both beauty and dreadfulness. The cat in the Frome household symbolizes the burgeoning relationship between Ethan and Mattie. The china plate signifies the fragile marriage between Ethan and Zeena. "The cat broke the plate" - is a significant point in the novel.