The story is set in New England and begins on a June evening some time in the late 19th century. Sylvia,
a nine-year-old girl, is driving her cow back home when she meets a young hunter in the forest. First afraid and
suspicious, she eventually agrees to take him with her to her grandmother, with whom she is living after having
left her mother and the crowded town. Once there, the stranger explains to them that he is looking for a very rare
and precious bird, a beautiful white heron that he has seen in the area and which he is ready to pay for. The next
day, Sylvia and the hunter walk through the woods in search of the bird. The young girl gradually feels safer now
and she is even attracted to the man. During the following night, she decides all by herself to climb a huge pinetree
from the top of which she thinks she can see the white heron’s nest. Her climb is very painful and dangerous,
but once at the top, she catches sight of the nest. When she returns home, the hunter asks her if she found the
white heron’s nest, but Sylvia refuses to reveal her secret.
We intend to focus our analysis on two main themes present in the story. The first one is the contrast
between town and nature; the second the opposition between feminine and masculine attitudes and identities.
This will finally lead us to discuss “The White Heron” as a story of initiation.
The story is set in New England and begins on a June evening some time in the late 19th century. Sylvia,a nine-year-old girl, is driving her cow back home when she meets a young hunter in the forest. First afraid andsuspicious, she eventually agrees to take him with her to her grandmother, with whom she is living after havingleft her mother and the crowded town. Once there, the stranger explains to them that he is looking for a very rareand precious bird, a beautiful white heron that he has seen in the area and which he is ready to pay for. The nextday, Sylvia and the hunter walk through the woods in search of the bird. The young girl gradually feels safer nowand she is even attracted to the man. During the following night, she decides all by herself to climb a huge pinetreefrom the top of which she thinks she can see the white heron’s nest. Her climb is very painful and dangerous,but once at the top, she catches sight of the nest. When she returns home, the hunter asks her if she found thewhite heron’s nest, but Sylvia refuses to reveal her secret.We intend to focus our analysis on two main themes present in the story. The first one is the contrastbetween town and nature; the second the opposition between feminine and masculine attitudes and identities.This will finally lead us to discuss “The White Heron” as a story of initiation.
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