As the work of a regionalist writer, Jewett's short story "A White Heron" consists of symbols that reflect the impact that the drastic changes in the landscape have had about those who sympathize with nature, like Jewett herself. Jewett's direct experience of a small, isolated region overtaken by industry thus enabled him to produce a story that negatively represented industrialization. In “A White Heron,” Jewett conveys his message by using the young man – the bird hunter – to symbolize industry and Sylvia to symbolize nature. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay It is not uncommon for literary works to describe nature with its generosity and beauty as a woman. For decades, the feminine gender has been seen alongside and linked to that gentle, soothing gift that God has bestowed on the world – a symbol of something that gives more than it receives, that feels more compassion and mercy than hatred and greed. Sylvia is the shy little girl who befriends the forest animals and becomes one with nature. As Sylvia quietly lives out her humble days, her peace is suddenly disrupted by a young man armed with a gun. He approaches kindly and soon after, he makes Sylvia a good companion. Sylvia finds this intruder fascinating and at one point even dreams of romance with him. During the time she spent following the young man on his quest for birds and watching him shoot down "an unsuspecting singing creature from its branch", Sylvia does not object to the man's actions at all. She remains silent, docile, and yet in her heart condemns the man's actions – perplexed by the man's demonstration of his "love" for the birds. Sylvia, representing nature and femininity as a whole, does not understand why he photographs and palms them if he loves birds so much. She believes that she would much prefer the young man without his gun, an idea that highlights her feminine instincts of tenderness and opposition to violence. Furthermore, the feminine passivity typical of Jewett's time is emphasized through Sylvia's complacency towards the young man. Even though Sylvia is the daughter of the woods, the young man is nevertheless the one who leads their walks. She never takes matters into her own hands and never argues with him about killing the birds. Thus, not only did the young man disturb the peace of Sylvia and nature, but he also took over the country in which, unlike Sylvia, he is a stranger. His domination is his work; nature, and the little girl as its representative, have been too naive and innocent to see any reason to chase him away, too compassionate in accepting his presence, without questioning his appearance or doubting his intentions to stay. Sylvia does not seem to realize that the young man only keeps her close for his own benefit. Jewett made it clear to readers that his main goal was to track a white heron. When Mrs. Tilley, Sylvia's grandmother, talks about her remarkable "woods girl" trait, so much so that the wild creatures consider her one of their own, the man can't help but be amused and develop a sudden and great interest in the girl. He even gives Sylvia a jackknife, which she receives with enthusiasm and admiration for the masculinity, adventure and violence it represents. The fact that she does not appreciate him killing birds while admiring him for the strong man he is and that she values ​​the weapon he gives her symbolizes Sylvia as a woman victim of his virile power: a common and sometimes fatal conception.