The White Heron

As the story begins we are taken to the place where Sylvia grows up. As the author describes the dimly lit woods and her friend Mistress Moolly, her cow, I could already feel a connection between me and Sylvia. Growing up in a place where there are no children your age makes your imagination run wild and when Sylvia plays hide and seek with the cow it shows that she has always had to entertain herself in ways most children couldn't. When Sylvia was younger she grew up in an industrial city and now that she has the luxury of living the slow life she is taking everything in. When walking down the path to get back to her grandmothers house she is stopped by a man. She is taken aback when the man asks to stay at her house, knowing that her grandmother wouldn't be too pleased she leads the man to the house. As the night goes on and the man starts to tell stories about where he has traveled and the horrific things he has seen, Sylvia becomes awed by this mans presence. When the man learns about Sylvia's knowledge of the birds his interests shift towards the young girl. As the story proceeds the man and Sylvia spend more time together and the young woman starts to think about love. Her thoughts make me think of young love and how naive children can be. She does not know this man but he is nice to her and pays attention to her so she thinks she is in love with him. It almost seems as if she does not lead to the hunter to the heron so she has more time to spend with him. I think a big turning point in the story is when Sylvia climbs the tree and becomes one with nature. She notices how big and rough the tree is, how loud the birds are singing and how beautiful the morning sky looks; so when she sees the white heron she knows she will never tell the hunter, no matter how much money he offers. For a young girl she realizes something most of us do not; there are more important things than money.