Journal 15: Sarah Orne Jewett

Michelle Romero
Eng 48b
Dr. Scott Lankford

"A White Heron"

"'Speak up and tell me what your name is, and whether you think I can spend the night at your house, and go out gunning early in the morning.' Sylvia was more alarmed than before. Would not her grandmother consider her much to blame? It did not seem to be her fault, and she hung her head as if the stem of it were broken, but managed to answer 'Sylvy' with much effort when her companion again asked her name."

This is a dialogue between Sylvia and our mystery man who appears out of no where while she is walking home. Sylvia at first hides from the man but it is too late, he has already seen her.

Here, Jewett seems to be implying that once a man has his sights on a girl/woman, she is in serious trouble. To go so far as to hide and without giving any real explanation as to why she would be afraid of this man seems a little odd. The image of the gun in this scene is symbolic of sort of this American male dominance and need to control his environment, even if he has to kill it apparently.

This dominant male image is clarified when he basically invites himself to spend the night at her house and later, demands food. Also, the fact that he commands her to "speak," makes him seem like he thinks she is just a "bitch" or a dog. Does she really need him to tell her to speak? If she wanted to talk to him, she could on her own free will, could she not? I don't know many people who would pass by someone they didn't know at all and say "Speak."

In addition, the later image of his hunting birds to stuff them and put them on display mirrors the historical idea of women being proper women, and a man choosing her for her etiquette, upbringing, and social status. Basically, to put her on show so that all could see what a lovely wife he has and he could feel like he has achieved or conquered something.

Therefore, there is a parallel in this story between the girl and the birds, or in particular, the white heron. The two are free beings, until a man has captured them. Perhaps this is why Sylvia hides. Perhaps this is why she prefers the farm where acquaintances are few. Her only chance to be free is to not be seen.

She hangs her head (knowing the implications of allowing this man in to her life), as if the stem were broken. This is particulary important because it again emphasizes Jewett's comparison of a woman to nature. You can think of Sylvia as a flower, whose stem has just been broken. (see blog on the wretched geranium for more detail on my flower analysis). And all because this man saw her! Jewett gives a lot of power to this guy. Than speaks loudly for itself.