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Essay / Influences from the Wonders of Childhood: Transition to Womanhood in a White Heron
Sarah Orne Jewett's 19th-century tale, "A White Heron," explores a temporary obstacle in a young girl's relationship with nature. Sylvia, the nine-year-old heroine, lives a simple life in the forests of New England with her grandmother. With few memories of her urban lifestyle, Sylvia immersed herself in pastoral work. The introduction of a charismatic hunter complicates his actions; she must decide the placement of her companionship, whether in the attractive new stranger or in her loyal animal allies. Questions of morality and responsibility battle the urge to please Sylvia's new friend. Pierced by inner conflicts, Jewett's protagonist in "A White Heron" ultimately devotes herself to protecting nature rather than complicity in its destruction, marking a subset of her transition to womanhood. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayAt first, the innocence of Sylvia's childhood is firmly associated with her environment and culture. Jewett's introductory descriptions of Sylvia construct a picture of childlike wonder and simplicity with her surroundings, searching for her cow with "childlike patience" and having "all the time there was, and very little use in it." to pull ". These details are used to describe her age and overall purity, untouched by the city she previously lived in. Aside from her grandmother and her animal companions, Sylvia's lack of social interaction further isolates her in her space. She has her own basis of independence, because "since the creation of the world, there has never been such a child to wander outside!" ". Just like her Uncle Dan, Sylvia needed to escape the hustle and bustle of the city to experience new things. Her innocence is preserved in a harmonious setting and, as the result suggests, she flourishes in her new atmosphere with few memories of the noisy city in which she previously lived. Meeting the hunter is the first step in her rite of passage, a separation from her. previous beliefs and transition of thought to eventually meet the needs of the young man. The young hunter is immediately portrayed as a nasty character because of his whistle, which is "not a bird's whistle, which would have a sort of friendliness, but a child's whistle, determined and somewhat aggressive." The inclusion of this detail highlights the contrast between Sylvia's natural surroundings and the noisy city she left a year ago. While this is an implication of the hunter's intentions, it also "creates sexual tension that will complicate, if not threaten, Sylvia's relationship with her home in the woods." There is no prior suggestion of a romantic interest in Sylvia's life - this is likely her first exposure to the feeling of love towards a crush. Especially in the context of his “heart pounding” when asked where the heron is, there is a sense of excitement at the potential detriment of his animal companions. It is a sign of growth from his youth, breaking the boundaries of his innocence by gaining this experience. However, the ornithologist's intentions require further examination. The Hunter is a manipulative character, positively reinforcing Sylvia to help her for personal ends. He manages to convince his image in the story, not only to Sylvia and her grandmother, but also to the reader. Initially, he presents himself as a persuasive and armed enemy, a symbol of the destruction of his once-untouched land. However, after she reveals her name, the hunter shows upas her "companion", a word used exclusively throughout the story to describe Sylvia's animal friends. The Hunter's classification as Sylvia's "companion" illustrates her conflicting ideals; he assumes the role of tempter far from the surrounding fauna that she loves so much in her innocence. His interest in Sylvia comes solely from "exploitative reasons…his intention is to colonize nature and, ultimately, the female sanctuary in which Sylvia thrives." It has a profound effect on his youthful wonder and curiosity. Her desires inspire her to search for the heron, illustrating the inherited instability of their relationships with each other. Sylvia's youthful admiration for the Hunter influences her, leading to her conflict over whether or not she should help him. Its age is a major factor contributing to its handling by the ornithologist. The ornithologist only recognizes the value of Sylvia's relationship with animals as a means to fulfilling her desires. Sylvia processes her feelings in real time – looking at the hunter with “loving admiration” and realizing how “the woman's heart, asleep in the child, was vaguely excited by a dream of love.” Certainly, it would be disturbing to find that the hunter shared the same affection for a nine-year-old girl; however, the hunter's actions show no sympathy for her relationship with innocence and nature. Circumventing his “family sorrows,” giving him a pocket knife, and his asking Sylvia to reveal the location of the heron are examples of his attempts at exploitation. The climactic moment of Sylvia's rite of passage stems from her refusal to reveal the location of the heron to the hunter. Sylvia goes through a mental and physical transformation throughout her ordeal. She betrays her loyalty to the forest in search of the heron's hiding place. The recognition of betrayal also strikes her, that "the great wave of human interest which first flooded this dull little life should sweep away the satisfactions of an existence...with nature and the mute life of the forest!" ". Sylvia recognizes the effect the hunter has on her view of nature. His state of mind is influenced by human interaction, and his willingness to search for the rare bird's hiding place further suggests this. The extent of her journey is somewhat gruesome – where dry twigs scratch at her legs “like angry claws” as she climbs the white oak with “clumsy and stiff” fingers. It's not easy; in fact, she finds the journey more difficult than expected. However, she reaps the rewards of her excursion once she finds the heron's hiding place. She gains experience witnessing the beauty of the natural world, an experience that prevents her from betraying the heron. Its appearance is grainy after coming down from the oak, "its old worn dress is torn and tattered, and smeared with pine pitch." Sylvia has made progress in making her decision; As its robust appearance demonstrates, gaining knowledge from experience is a process. She underwent a physical transformation during her transition. Sylvia's assessment of her environment informs her decision, establishing a fundamental lesson for her childhood. A pang compliments his change of heart for disappointing his new human companion. Sylvia notices the opportunity she's missing when she questions how "...she's been growing up for nine years and now, as the big world reaches out to her for the first time, must she put it aside to the love of a bird? The hunter could provide money and human interaction for her and her grandmother. This makes his refusal to help him even more impactful on the potential of his future, and "by choosing the heron over.