In the well-known short story, "A White Heron" written by Sarah Orne Jewett, various characters seem to have mythical and symbolic significance. These characters include the tree, the hunter, the cow, and the white heron. At different parts in this story, each of the characters help to develop and reflect Sylvia's character. Although each character is significant, Sylvia's experience in the tree symbolizes her journey of maturity, knowledge, and self-discovery with nature. Early in the story, Sylvia meets a hunter who offers her ten dollars to lead him to the rare white heron he has been searching for. Being very poor, Sylvia is tempted by the possibility of obtaining the money, as the story states, “No amount of thought, that night,
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At the top, she hopes to find knowledge she seeks. However, the journey is harder than she first intended, "The way was harder than she thought; she must reach far and hold fast, the sharp dry twigs caught and held her nd scrated her like angry talons, the pitch made her thin little fingers clumsy and stiff as she went round and round the tree's great stem, higher and higher upward." (136) The struggle she faces while climbing can represent the struggle she is having with the change she is going through. Slyvia is determined to make it to the top becuase she must find the white heron to obtain the money and please the hunter. When she finally reaches the top, "she stood trembling and tired but wholly triumphant, high in the treetop." (136) From up top she gains a different view point and realizes the nature around her "was a vast and awesome world." (136) Syvlia also shares a moment with the white heron watching the sun come up which made a great impact on her which she reflects back on later in the story. In the end, Sylvia decides to keep silent and not tell the hunter the place to find the bird. The decison she made was a true test of her character and ability to now make adult decisons. When Sylvia reached the top of the tree it reflects her triumph over herself. When Sylvia decides not to tell where the heron is she becomes fully
At the top, she hopes to find knowledge she seeks. However, the journey is harder than she first intended, "The way was harder than she thought; she must reach far and hold fast, the sharp dry twigs caught and held her nd scrated her like angry talons, the pitch made her thin little fingers clumsy and stiff as she went round and round the tree's great stem, higher and higher upward." (136) The struggle she faces while climbing can represent the struggle she is having with the change she is going through. Slyvia is determined to make it to the top becuase she must find the white heron to obtain the money and please the hunter. When she finally reaches the top, "she stood trembling and tired but wholly triumphant, high in the treetop." (136) From up top she gains a different view point and realizes the nature around her "was a vast and awesome world." (136) Syvlia also shares a moment with the white heron watching the sun come up which made a great impact on her which she reflects back on later in the story. In the end, Sylvia decides to keep silent and not tell the hunter the place to find the bird. The decison she made was a true test of her character and ability to now make adult decisons. When Sylvia reached the top of the tree it reflects her triumph over herself. When Sylvia decides not to tell where the heron is she becomes fully