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Characters
Sylvia, the protagonist of the story, is a 9-year-old girl living on a farm in the Maine woodlands with her grandmother, Mrs. Tilley. Before moving to her grandmother’s farm, Sylvia lived in a crowded manufacturing town with her mother and many siblings. In town, she felt stifled and bullied, but now she enjoys the company of animals and asserts her freedom to explore nature. Jewett describes Sylvia as a curious, observant, and shy young girl with a “pale face and shining gray eyes” that easily convey if she’s feeling excited, scared, or troubled. The arrival of the hunter disrupts her peaceful country existence, as he asks her to help him find the rare white heron so that he can shoot and stuff it. Initially afraid this stranger, she agrees to help him because she begins to admire him and enjoy his company, feelings that border on romantic. Alone at night, she climbs a tree to locate the heron’s nest. She spots the heron but while she views her natural environment from an aerial perspective, she identifies with the bird and feels a deep spiritual connection to it. She decides she cannot tell the hunter about the location of the heron because she cannot allow him to take the bird’s life. The story ends with her becoming wiser, having made the moral choice to preserve nature, while still feeling regret over the loss of her friendship with the hunter. Sylvia’s climatic choice to save the nature she loves suggests that one should choose to protect the environment even if that experience entails sacrificing other things that matter, like friendship.
Sylvia Quotes in A White Heron
The A White Heron quotes below are all either spoken by Sylvia or refer to Sylvia. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part I Quotes
It was a good change for a little maid who had tried to grow for eight years in a crowded manufacturing town…it seemed as if she never had been alive at all before she came to live at the farm.
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In the opening scene of the story, the narrator establishes the dichotomy of country vs. town, showing that living in the country allows children the opportunity to grow and explore their environment. Specifically, the quote shows that industrialism stifles childhood development, as Sylvia could only “try” to grow in the “crowded manufacturing town.” The rapid industrialization taking place in New England during the time period of this story caused authors like Jewett to want to explore the harms caused by people becoming disconnected from the natural environment of the countryside, leading to Jewett’s Romantic view of a child flourishing in Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim
Sylvia still watched the toad, not divining, as she might have done at some calmer time, that the creature wished to get to its hole under the doorstep…No amount of thought, that night, could decide how many wished-for treasures the ten dollars, so lightly spoken of, would buy.
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Sylvia’s identification with her natural environment is interrupted as the hunter offers her a monetary reward for helping him find the heron. Whereas before, she would have tried to put herself in the toad’s perspective, now she is too distracted by the money. This shows how greed can hinder one’s identification with nature and how the material rewards of industrialism, represented by the hunter’s quest to shoot the heron, can separate one from their natural environment. This introduces the central conflict which will challenge and transform Sylvia’s character, as the plot forces her to choose between the elements of nature Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque e
All day long he did not once make her troubled or afraid except when he brought down some unsuspecting singing creature from its bough…she could not understand why he killed the very birds he seemed to like so much.
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Sylvia’s affection for the hunter grows as she searches for the heron with him, but all the while she is troubled by his shooting of birds. This shows two conflicting attitudes of interacting with nature: Sylvia’s, which appreciates nature as it exists independently in the wild, and the hunter’s, which conquers nature and turns wildlife into objects. Jewett’s language privileges the former attitude, criticizing the hunter for bringing down “some unsuspecting singing creature from its bough.” At this point in the story, Sylvia does not question aloud or stop the hunter’s greed, but later she will have to choose whether Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur m
Part II Quotes
Alas, if the great wave of human interest which flooded for the first time this dull little life should sweep away the satisfactions of an existence heart to heart with nature and the dumb life of the forest!
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Despite her excitement over the opportunity to find the heron, Sylvia is still able to take comfort in the twittering of birds as she travels to the pine tree. This quote cautions against allowing human interference to prevent connection to nature, warning that experience with society will lead to one losing simple enjoyments in nature. Here, Jewett also examines Sylvia’s innocence at the beginning of the story, now challenged by her connection to society through the hunter. While Jewett celebrates Sylvia’s innocent connection to nature, she also describes Sylvia’s state as a “dull little life,” a phrase which suggests that Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dol
The old pine must have loved his new dependent. More than all the hawks, and bats, and moths, and even the sweet-voiced thrushes, was the brave, beating heart of the solitary gray-eyed child.
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As Sylvia climbs up the tall pine tree in order to view the heron, she senses that the tree itself is caring for her on her mission. Jewett highlights Sylvia’s deep connection to nature during this experience, as the narration suggests that the tree and Sylvia have a mutual relationship and are working together. With this, Jewett emphasizes the value of connecting to nature. She also celebrates the bravery Sylvia displays on her solo journey. The language of the quote specifically describes Sylvia as “solitary,” showing that her being alone allows her to develop admirable courage and self-reliance. This fits Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut venia
Yes, there was the sea with the dawning sun making a golden dazzle over it, and toward that glorious east flew two hawks with slow-moving pinions…Sylvia felt as if she too could go flying away among the clouds.
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Sylvia views the full expanse of her natural environment from the top of the pine tree. From this elevated, aerial perspective, she is able to observe the beauty of nature like never before. This experience would not have been possible if the pine tree had not been conserved and if Sylvia did not live in the wide-open countryside. As she observes the hawks, she imagines that she “too could go flying away among the clouds.” This shows how the experience up in the tree allows Sylvia to identify on a deep level with wildlife. This identification with nature will become Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor n
Has she been nine years growing, and now, when the great world for the first time puts out a hand to her, must she thrust it aside for a bird’s sake?
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Sylvia returns from her experience viewing the heron and discovers that she cannot tell the hunter the location of the bird, even though she admires him and wants the reward he offers. “The great world” refers to the elements of society and industrialization that the hunter represents. The benefits of industrialization, including wealth and connections to humanity, almost tempt Sylvia into revealing the heron’s location. But for reasons not yet completely apparent to Sylvia, she finds greater value in the life of the heron and her connection to the bird. Here, Jewett shows that connecting to nature will lead one Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores su
The murmur of the pine’s 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, and Sylvia cannot speak; she cannot tell the heron’s secret and give its life away.
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Sylvia decides that she cannot tell the hunter the location of the heron because that would mean helping him kill the heron. She makes this decision because she remembers the connection she felt to nature while up in the pine tree. She identified with the heron as they “watched the sea and the morning together,” and that connection has more value than the friendship or money that the hunter offers. Here, Jewett shows that experiences within nature will encourage one to conserve nature. She also shows how Sylvia values the heron as an independent living being who should not be Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non
Were the birds better friends than their hunter might have been, – who can tell?
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After the hunter leaves, Sylvia longs for his companionship and wonders if she made the right choice in choosing the heron over him. Jewett realistically depicts the loneliness that can result from a solitary life in nature, showing that, as connected as one may feel to nature, one still may long for human relationships. While the moral choice is to value conserving nature over industrialism and human inference, that choice may still result in the loss of human relationships. Jewett also shows how one’s life experiences can result in the loss of one’s once innocent, peaceful existence and leave one Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet
Whatever treasures were lost to her, woodlands and summer-time, remember! Bring your gifts and graces and tell your secrets to this lonely country child!
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In the final lines of the story, the narration calls upon the gifts of nature to comfort Sylvia, as she is feeling lonely and regretful. Jewett suggests that when one loses part of their innocence or feels they made the wrong decision in the past, they can seek comfort in nature. When one feels lonely and without human connection, the gifts of their natural environment offer consolation. This romantically celebrates communion with nature in a time when industrialization separated many people from their natural environments and argues that the decision to conserve nature is ultimately worth making.
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Sylvia Character Timeline in A White Heron
The timeline below shows where the character Sylvia appears in A White Heron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part I
One June evening, a little girl named Sylvia is driving her cow, Mistress Moolly, home through the woodlands of the Maine countryside. Although...
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Mrs. Tilley, Sylvia’s grandmother, expects Sylvia to be late bringing the cow home because she knows how mischievous...
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When Mrs. Tilley first brought Sylvia to live on the farm, she remarked at how her granddaughter was “afraid of folks,”...
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As Sylvia continues to drive Mistress Moolly home, she imagines the birds are saying goodnight and she...
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At this moment, Sylvia is frightened by the sound of a boy’s whistle and she abandons Mistress Moolly in...
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As she resumes driving Mistress Moolly home, Sylvia tries not to look at the stranger, who carries a gun. He walks with her,...
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Sylvia is even more worried, believing Mrs. Tilley will be mad at her for happening upon...
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The hunter enjoys Mrs. Tilley’s “quaint talk” and he notices Sylvia listening with enthusiasm. After dinner, the three of them sit down in the doorway to...
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Mrs. Tilley says that Sylvia has the same adventurous spirit as her uncle Dan. Sylvia knows every inch of the...
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...of “family sorrow” in Mrs. Tilley’s conversation because he is distracted by his excitement over Sylvia’s knowledge of birds. He says that he has been collecting birds all his life, and...
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Sylvia is preoccupied watching a toad on the footpath, but when the hunter describes the white...
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...wants nothing more than to find the white heron’s nest and he promises that, if Sylvia helps him find the bird, he will reward her with ten dollars. Sylvia still “watched...
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The next day, the hunter explores the woods and Sylvia tags along. She begins to warm up to him because she finds him to be...
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As the day comes to an end, Sylvia feels the stirring of more mature feelings of love for the hunter. She follows him...
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Part II
A half mile from Sylvia and Mrs. Tilley’s home stands a pine tree that woodchoppers spared when they cut down...
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Thinking of this tree, adventure and ambition fill Sylvia’s mind. That night, she cannot sleep, so she sneaks out alone. She hears birds awakening...
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Sylvia arrives at the pine tree and is filled with bravery and hope as she begins...
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Sylvia struggles as she climbs up the tree because twigs scratch her like “angry talons” and...
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The narrator remarks that the tree must be amazed by Sylvia’s bravery and therefore must steady its twigs in order to help her. Sylvia is braver...
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Sylvia finally reaches the top of the tree, feeling tired yet triumphant. She sees the sea...
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The birds’ songs grow louder as Sylvia observes the sailboats on the sea and the fading colors of the sunrise on the...
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Sylvia “gives a long sigh a minute late” when some other loud birds come to the...
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Back at home, Mrs. Tilley finds Sylvia’s bed empty and begins calling for her granddaughter. The hunter wakes and looks forward to...
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Sylvia returns home, pale and with her clothes torn and ruined by pine pitch. The hunter...
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But Sylvia cannot speak, even as a worried Mrs. Tilley scolds her for disappearing and the hunter...
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Sylvia questions why she would give up her first worldly connection for the sake of a...
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The hunter leaves disappointed later that day, and for a long time afterwards, Sylvia still thinks of him on her nighttime walks driving Mistress Moolly home. She feels regret...
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After a while, Sylvia’s horror at the hunter shooting birds fades, forgetting how he left “their songs hushed and...
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The narrator calls on the gifts and wonders of nature to compensate Sylvia for what she has lost, asking “woodlands and summer-time” to “bring your gifts and graces...
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