The Role Of Nature In Sarah Orne Jewett's A White Heron

Flourishing nature is most beauteous in areas which have not been maimed by the human race. The idea that spiritual and philosophical wellness can be found in nature is supported world-wide. Many different cultures use their eco-rich surroundings to become more spiritually/philosophically endowed. In the short story “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett there are two fundamental relationships with society and nature that reflect the author’s point of view in support of this idea. The first is a good example of how nature can positively affect the spiritual/philosophical wellness of a person through an appreciative, loving, and tolerant relationship (Sylvia). The second is a destructive, parasitic relationship that is only beneficial to one party (the hunter). Sylvia struggles with her loyalty to her own innocence and respect of nature because of the exciting new possibilities the hunter promises to her. I will elaborate on topics such as the nature of Sylvia’s relationships, the narrator’s point of view, and the writing style in the text to demonstrate an understanding of how the author saw the relationship of society and nature in “A White Heron”. Sylvia comes from a tightly packed city and is referred to as “trying to grow” but could not because she was too cramped. This parallels her to being

She succeeds in extending a sense of sympathy for her characters and intricate details about the nature that the author herself has experienced. Jewett has a deep appreciation for natural beauty and wishes that society would learn how to appreciate nature without strangling it, like the hunter did. The author sees the relationship between society and nature as being in need of some tolerance and recognition. Sylvia is an example of the ideal relationship; although she wants to please the huntsman, ultimately she would also be sentencing the white heron to