Silvia's Suspenseful Ascent - an Essay on "A White Heron"

Sarah Orne Jewett, the author of the short story A White Heron, uses vivid language to create a dramatic scene about a small girl climbing a large tree. Silvia, the protagonist, wonders what waits at the top of the highest tree in the forest, so she decides that climbing it herself is the best way to find out. Jewett's writing portrays Silvia's climb as a dramatic adventure by the way she describes the tree, the climb itself, and the triumph after the climb is over.

Jewett dramatizes the story by painting a vivid picture of what the tree is like. The tree becomes a monument in the story before the climb even occurs. It is compared with "a great main-mast to the voyaging earth" to exaggerate immenseness and significance of the tree. This analogy stresses how the characters in the story perceive the giant tree. Not only is a mast of a ship a very large addition to the boat, but it also is essential for the ship to get around efficiently. Later, Jewett uses personification to bring the tree alive: "The sharp dry twigs [catch] and [hold Silvia] and [scratch] her like angry talons..." The author creates a sense of how this tree is receiving Silvia in a way that could hinder her overall progress of getting to the top. The trees initial violent nature poses a problem by preventing Silvia from reaching her goal. Finally, the tree is explained to be "the last of its generation." It is therefore respected as a legacy, famous for being so strong and individual. If it has outlasted the rest of its kind it must be stronger as supported with Darwin's law of natural order. In conclusion, the words used to help create depictions of the tree cause a more sensational image of the tree.

Another way Jewett dramatizes this excerpt from A White Heron is by cleverly describing Sylvia's journey through the giant pine tree. The author keeps the climb suspenseful by mentioning "the daring [step] across into the [pine]." By announcing the protagonist's dangerous position, Jewett makes apparent the dangers Sylvia must overcome to avoid consequences. More challenges are revealed when "[Sylvia's] thin little fingers [become] clumsy and stiff." These challenges have more to do with the fear that Sylvia must overcome than it does with the trees rigorous path; however, Silvia needs to face her fears the same as if it were a physical obstacle. Jewett also describes the trek to be continuous and seemingly impossible: "The tree [seems] to lengthen itself out as she went up, and to reach farther and farther upward." If, at this point, Sylvia completes her objective, it becomes an even more amazing climb because it seems more and more difficult as the tree seems to get bigger and bigger. Overall Jewett conveys a more dramatic climb by incorporating all the challenges Sylvia must overcome.

The last way Jewett dramatizes Sylvia's escapade is by painting a triumphant finish. When Sylvia first reaches the very top of the tree, a "pale star" represents the delight on Sylvia's face. Her joy is so strong that even though she is in a relatively dark atmosphere during dawn, her face still shines brightly with glee. Also, Jewett glorified the amazing image from Sylvia's great height: "There was the sea with the dawning sun making a golden dazzle over it." Dazzle is a light word that implies glitter-like colors were sprinkled over and invokes a calm atmosphere because of how pretty glitter is. This calming atmosphere makes a beautiful view like one big painting. Later Sylvia experiences a sensation of "flying away among the clouds." This verifies that Sylvia's mind and spirit are in awe from the spectacular feeling of accomplishment. With this awe, Sylvia's feelings are limited by only her imagination so flying is how she envisions her success in her adventure. Finally, describing Sylvia' wonderful sense of accomplishment is a third way Jewett dramatizes Sylvia's journey.

By her dramatization of Sylvia's climb, Jewett promotes this event above the typical summer adventure. In A White Heron, Sylvia is a child who goes beyond what is expected of her and sets her mind to seemingly impossible things, only to receive a great reward for her accomplishments. In total, the rewards of success are far superior to the sacrifices of determination.