Sarah Jewett's Short Story 'A White Heron'

The short story theory is applied when a piece of literature, a short story, presents to the audience a short list of characters and centers its intention in a single occurring event with intent to expose the true nature of a character through his or her actions (483-484). Sarah Jewett’s short story, “A White Heron,” is essentially about a choice; most importantly, the choice of one young girl to maintain her innocence while facing the challenge of having to possibly give it up due to a young man’s love and trust. This short story begins with a quote that might make the audience feel as though something negative is occurring, “The woods were already filled with shadows one June evening” (848). The way the author chooses to begin this story,

From here we start to get the impression that Sylvia is becoming attached to the young man, where now she may be able to overcome her fear of mankind. However, to do so would be a sin, as she would betray the natural world she so much loves. Sylvia must make in important and life changing decision by choosing between her home and the young

Then, “She remembers how the white heron came flying through the golden air and how they watched the sea and the morning together” (855), she cannot bring herself to “tell the heron’s secret and give its life away” (855). It is possible that Sylvia sees that she cannot become a part of his life, as once she left her previous home, she left without regrets. Although part of her wishes to make the young man happy, she chooses to protect the bird instead. She had two choices she could have made, she could have fallen in love, or, as she did, remains innocent, however she remained true to herself and made the right choice, the choice to conceal the heron’s secret instead of receiving the young man’s friendship and