A White Heron - Ecocritical Analysis

Eco-criticism and eco-theory explore the various ways in which we imagine and portray the relationship that exists between human beings and the natural environment. An eco-theoretical reading of a literary text will usually examine the manners in which humans and the natural environment interact, influence, and counter each other. Eco-theoretical and eco-critical readings of literary texts tend to focus on how pollution and environmental destruction is examined and considered in literary texts, as well as how humans are depicted as interacting with their natural dwellings, as well as animals, the wilderness, and the earth as a whole. A number of eco-critics and eco-theorists have shown a special interest in exploring and considering how a number of modern and postmodern writers imagine natural and environmental apocalypses. Eco-theory should not be considered to be a mere offshoot of the modern day ecological movement. Eco-theorists do not always adhere closely to the principles of the modern ecology or environmental political movements. In fact, many ecotheorists have shown a measure of skepticism toward the ideological motivations behind contemporary environmental movements. The White Heron is a short story written by Sarah Jewett which examines the scope of ecology. Faced with the current deteriorating ecological environment, it is urgent to re-read this short story from the angle of ecocriticism, to listen to its warning against the danger of abusing nature. This essay will analyze how this short story pictures nature, how its characters abuse nature. Sarah Jewetts short story, A White Heron, glorifies nature and portrays wildlife as having an intrinsic value independent from that of what humans use it for. Jewett uses the contrast of a young country girl to that of a higher-class hunter in order to demonstrate the significance of living as one with nature and the human foolishness of assuming that nature exists solely for their own benefit. Throughout the story Jewett utilizes colors to illustrate nature. In the quotation, The murmur of the pines green branches is in her ears, she remembers how the white heron came flying through the golden air and how they watched the sea and the morning together, Jewett chooses colors to symbolize various objects in her short story. The green of the pine represents nature and the life that surrounds the farm; the white heron symbolizes the innocence of nature; the golden air depicts 1

Jewetts appreciation for nature to show its value and worth to humans. Jewett uses the associations of colors to human emotions and values in order to urge the reader to realize natures significance. In this sense, Jewett can be considered to believe the Deep ecology ecophilosophy. Because she consideres even air to be golden, translates to the reader that Jewett places an emphasis on the importance of nature. Repeatedly, the color gray is associated in the characterization of Sylvia. The relevance of the color is to show that she is already a part of nature; she is the rock, the anchor and provides the stability nature so requires. Gray is an earth tone and should be interpreted as a vital portion of the earth, just as Sylvia is to her environment. Every metaphor attributed to Sylvia is associated with nature. Sylvia, urged her [cow] affectionately homeward with a twig of birch leaves, looked like a pale star, and her grandmother states that the wild creature counts her one o themselves. It is obvious Jewett is attempting to persuade the reader to personify nature through the character of Sylvia. By the constant use of metaphors in Sylvias descriptions as well as referencing natures attachment to Sylvia, Jewett equates nature with Sylvia. The encounter of Sylvia with the tall young man, who carried a gun over his shoulder, shows the encroachment of the white man on nature. By not attributing a name this this sportsman, Jewett allows the reader to generalize this man and extrapolate his character as any man, or the entire male race. The fight between male and female appreciate of nature is evident here. In this regard, Jewett takes on the Ecofeminism philosophy by constantly referring to the mans gun and his activity of gunning with Sylvias remark of wonder that she could not understand why he killed the very birds he seemed to like so much. Jewett is not representing the radical position of Ecofeminism, because of her mention that the man was kind and sympathetic, but his continuing pursuit of his goal for the white heron speaks to readers that he may rob the nature of its innocence. Jewetts usage of color imagery coupled with the characterization of Sylvia and the ornithologist illustrates to the reader Jewetts love for nature and her persuasion for the reader to feel the same way. Early on in the story Jewett establishes that nature is pure and kind, and, for the most part, man is an outsider to nature and something to be feared. Sylvys first meeting with the hunter demonstrates this point, Suddenly this little woods-girl is horror-stricken to hear a clear whistle not very far away. Not a birds-whistle, which would have a sort of friendliness, but a boys whistle, determined, and somewhat aggressive (AICI SCRII: JEWETT SI APOI NR PAGINII DIN ROMAN UNDE SE AFLA ACEST CITAT). This quote demonstrates Jewetts idea that nature is something safe, whereas man possesses something inherently aggressive and domineering. It is clear from this quote that it is nature which Jewett wants readers to respect, not humans. 2

Sylvy has a very different, and in Jewetts opinion, better set of values than the hunter, a difference that Jewett insinuates results from their different class and background. Sylvy did not come to life until she was living in and with nature, a lifestyle that the hunter looks down upon and patronizes as quaint. Sylvys unique relationship with nature is demonstrated by the following passage, There aint a foot o ground she dont know her way over, and the wild creaturs counts her one o themselves (AICI SCRII: JEWETT SI APOI NR PAGINII DIN ROMAN UNDE SE AFLA ACEST CITAT). As this quote demonstrates, Sylvy is accepted by nature as one of its own. The acceptance of Sylvy by nature is shown by Jewett to be a kind of honor and something to be respected. Jewett goes on to show that the hunters narrow-minded view of nature as something to be used for human gain is wrong and should be scorned. Jewett demonstrates these points by Sylvys ultimate success in discovering the herons secret and the hunters failure at killing the bird and claiming his prize. Jewett expresses the desire for humans to live as one with nature, a monistic view that would be appreciated by deep ecologists. She uses the victory of a white heron over a hunter to demonstrate natures worth to be something supreme and untouched by human values.

Works cited: 3

Coupe, Laurence. The Green Studies Reader: Ecocriticism. London: Routlege, 2000. Garrard, Greg. Ecocriticism. London: Routlege Taylor&Francis Group, 2004. Print. Jewett, Sarah. A White Heron. Houghton,Mifllin& Company,1886 . Wilson, Lauren L. Environmental Issues in American Lit & Culture. CE ORAS SI CE

EDITURA????? LE SCRII CUM LE-AM SCRIS EU MAI SUS LA CELELALTE CARTI, 2010.