Short Story Clarification: A White Heron
Sarah Orne Jewett's story "A White Heron" discusses the complex reality that we all face when it comes to the differences of opinion. The mysterious hunter comes into Sylvia's life and she, at first, sees him as nothing but a threat to the forest she calls home. I believe that this short story clarifies my taste in literature because, it not only gives the opinion of our subject, being Sylvia, but also allows the apparent antagonist, being the Hunter, to express their opinions in a non-judgmental fashion. Normally, hunters are seen as people who kill for sport. However it was more than that for our mystery man. He believed that the best and only way to preserve nature is to fill his mind with memories and mementos. How a normal person would take a souvenir from an amusement park, he chose to make memories during his hunt, and preserve those memories, by subjecting his prey to taxidermy. Sylvia on the other hand believes that nature is something that you revere and observe both from a distance and as a thriving member of it. She climbs trees and traverses the swamps just like any other member of the ecosystem. Through that she was given the opportunity that not many people do not, to see nature as the horrific, disgusting, beautiful, majesty it truly is.
I liked that even though it was made clear that Sylvia was at odds with this gentleman, she listened to him. She chose to let herself hear his opinion and make a judgment for herself. Though some can agree with her that the hunter's opinion was a bit perturbed, it could be seen as just as wrong to send that man on a wild goose, (or should I say heron?), chase as opposed to explaining her discordance with leading him through the forest. In the end morality won, and Sylvia chose her woodland creature friends instead of the ten dollars that would have bout "how many wished for treasures." I liked the conflicting opinions leading to no change as it mimics daily life. Having conflicting,. unwavering, opinions proceeded to do absolutely nothing. Though it did leave Sylvia's woodland friends unharmed, it was only temporary, because the hunter was still on the hunt, for "A White Heron".
I liked that even though it was made clear that Sylvia was at odds with this gentleman, she listened to him. She chose to let herself hear his opinion and make a judgment for herself. Though some can agree with her that the hunter's opinion was a bit perturbed, it could be seen as just as wrong to send that man on a wild goose, (or should I say heron?), chase as opposed to explaining her discordance with leading him through the forest. In the end morality won, and Sylvia chose her woodland creature friends instead of the ten dollars that would have bout "how many wished for treasures." I liked the conflicting opinions leading to no change as it mimics daily life. Having conflicting,. unwavering, opinions proceeded to do absolutely nothing. Though it did leave Sylvia's woodland friends unharmed, it was only temporary, because the hunter was still on the hunt, for "A White Heron".