White Heron
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"A White Heron"
Sylvia the nine year old main character in Sarah Orne Jewett's "A White Heron" learns many things from her experience in the Maine's countryside. It is thru this knowledge that she is able to shape her life at such an early age.
By keeping the heron's secret Sylvia is initiated into the natural world. With this choice come great consequences. She will reject all modern civilization, isolating herself from society. She chooses to forever shun such things as marriage and the reality of ever having children. In order to find the herons nesting place her body must go thru physical and emotional pain. This includes "aching fingers" (Jewett 8) and her "lame feet slip" (Jewett 8). When the time came fro her to speak she could not. Not speaking out about the secret she protects herself and the heron...