A White Heron

Of this week’s readings, Sarah Orne Jewett’s “White Heron” was perhaps my favorite. It was a short story, and yet it was full of so much. Jewett’s ability to describe her characters and the region was wonderful, and I truly felt like I was there. I am familiar with salt-water marshes (although not those in the Northeast) and I could almost smell the brackish water. I loved the description of the obstinate old cow, Mistress Moolly. My own grandmother had a cow just like her.
The author was able to write with great detail about the girl’s thoughts and emotions. We are very happy when we learn the young Sylvia has come away from the dirty city to the beautiful country to live with her grandmother. The attention to detail in the description of the landscape and the birds and other animals was amazing. Each bird call or flutter of moth wings caught my attention. The grandmother and young man were not captured in such detail; Sylvia is the star of this story, rightfully so. She decided to help the young bird-watcher, and to her dismay, she saw her bird-friends go to their deaths. At his request Sylvia finally located the White Heron, and along the way somehow found herself, as she stood atop the tall tree. When she came down, and went back to the cottage, Sylvia found she was unable to give up the secret that would mean the heron’s death— because she felt like a part of the forest, like she finally belonged.