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Theme Of Gender Roles In A White Heron

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“A White Heron”, written by Sarah Orne Jewett, is a timeless classic of a girl finding a heron and keeping it a secret from a man she meets in the woods. There is a lot of symbolism in the story, but it also talks about the difference between the gender roles of the characters in the story and their approach to the natural world. This is a major facet especially in the time period the story takes place which is during the 1880’s. The author shows moments where gender roles fit the norms of the times but what is more fascinating is the focus given on the changing gender norms that conflict with the time period. I will give my opinion of the gender roles and also discuss two other opinions from other literary analysis by Aubrey E. Plourde and Effie Heotis.
During my research, I discovered the roles that men and women played during the 1880’s and how they fit into the character’s roles of “A White Heron“. Men were considered more strong, intelligent, and courageous. Women on the other hand were to have virtues of modesty, compassion, and chastity. They were driven by their emotions. Also, women were expected to be passive and men aggressive. We see this type of passive description in the story when it says, “She did not dare to look boldly at the young man” (Jewett 439). Even when Mrs. Tilley was bragging about Sylvia’s knowledge about nature, the author describes her as “The little girl that sat very demur” (Jewett 440). Another example of traditional gender roles is even

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