An Analysis Of Jewett's 'Tranquility In Loyalty'

Tranquility in Loyalty
At her grandmother's farm Sylvia, the heroine whispered to the cats that "This was a beautiful place to live in, and she never should wish to go home” (Sarah Orne Jewett). She started out as a beautiful flower and then gradually turned into the "wretched dry geranium that belonged to a town neighbor" (Jewett). When she met the hunter further along in the story she was described as hanging her head "as if the stem of it were broken" (Thomas L. Erskine). These aspects symbolized the tranquility of rural versus the despondency of city life. One of the few people who recognized the difference was Theodora Sarah Orne Jewett was born in 1849 in the New England village of South Berwick, Maine. Jewett's career and personal life
centered on close feminine friendships. Sylvia did not have many close friendships which is why she wanted to befriend the hunter. A White Heron is set in the forest of Jewett’s native Maine and revolves around Sylvia’s internal conflict to as to whether or not to give away the heron’s secret. She was very much at home in the forest. Her New England area is being transformed by the industrial revolution. She was exposed to the changes to rural life as industrial life intrudes into her world. Through the use of characterization, symbolism, and imagery, the author described the conflict between man's need for tranquility versus his need for industrialization. In the beginning Sylvia, the heroine was one with nature. After encountering industrialization she wondered if staying in her rural home was best.
Sylvia’s character was described as nature loving. Sylvia’s grandmother described her as “afraid of folks” and “there ain't a foot o' ground she don't know her way over, and the wild creaturs counts her one o' themselves. Squer'ls she'll tame to come an' feed right out o' her hands, and all sorts o' birds. Last winter she got the jay-birds to bangeing here, and I believe she'd 'a' scanted herself of her own meals to have plenty to throw out amongst 'em, if I hadn't kep' watch.” (Jewett). Sylvia was a shy child who was afraid of people but could relate to animals. She grasped the beauty of nature at a young age. She was curious about the animals and plants. Everything in nature fascinated the little nine year old. Critic Bily expanded on her character and said, “She’s not afraid to be alone in the woods after dark, even hearing the animals calling and rustling. Rather than causing fear, she listens to the bird calls as Jewett described as with a heart that beat fast with pleasure”. Sylvia was not intimidated by the outdoors, but rather the human interaction frightened her the most. She never made many friends and the hunter was the first person she liked. Sylvia’s tranquility was disrupted by the hunter.
The hunter exposed Sylvia to industrialization.
The character of the hunter was described as "tall young man, who carried a gun over his shoulder" (Jewett). In the story, Jewett explained that the hunter taught Sylvia about the birds and asked for the white heron’s whereabouts. The hunter wanted to get his way. Critic Bily explained in her analysis that, “the hunter is everything Sylvia is not. He was friendly and outgoing, while Jewett described Sylvia as ‘afraid of folks.’ Sylvia would rather be around the animals while the hunter would rather hunt them down and stuff them. Sylvia saw him as friendly and trusted him. The hunter used her shyness and his outgoing nature to his advantage. He wanted to take the heron but then he peacefully asked for Sylvia’s assistance in finding it. Sylvia liked learning about the birds and she wanted the money to help her grandmother so she considered his offer. She preferred nature rather than the benefits of
industrialization.
The hunter’s whistle symbolized the encroachment of industrialization on rural life. “Suddenly this little woods-girl is horror stricken to hear a clear whistle not very far away. Not a bird’s whistle which would have a sort of friendliness, but a boy’s whistle, determined, and somewhat aggressive” (Jewett). Bily stated that Sylvia was startled out of the memory of tranquility. The whistle made Sylvia feel scared and she wanted to hide. It made Sylvia come out of her peaceful thoughts. The whistle symbolized how industrialization had affected the countryside and brought about the loss of tranquility and made Sylvia question if staying in her rural home was best.
The heron symbolized Sylvia’s rural home and her love for nature. Jewett described Sylvia’s emotions when she saw the heron "She remembers how the white heron came flying through the golden air and how they watched the sea and the morning together. She cannot tell the heron's secret and give its life away." Bily pointed out that “although born and raised in the city, her true home is in the forest.” Sylvia could not trade the life of the heron for money. Sylvia had developed a fondness for the heron and the tranquility that the heron offered. Her friendship with the heron was older and more enduring than the acquaintance with the hunter. The heron is symbolic of Sylvia’s oneness with nature.
The images of nature and the geranium carry the story and these are contrasted with both the crowded manufacturing town and the man with the gun.
“The birds sang louder and louder. At last he sun came up bewildering bright. Sylvia could see the white sails of ships out at sea, and the clouds that were purple and rose-colored and yellow at first began to fade away. Where was the white heron’s nest in the sea of green branches, and was this wonderful sight and pageant of the world the only reward for having climbed to such a giddy height?” (Jewett). The clarity of the image of the sea, the sun, and two hawks make the observers feel as if they too could fly out over the world. (Terry Heller). The author used vivid imagery to describe Sylvia’s emotions as she experienced the beauty of nature. Sylvia was conflicted about her desire to preserve the beauty of nature versus the benefits of city
life.
After Sylvia met the hunter she was compared to the “wretched dry geranium that belonged to a town neighbor.” (Jewett) This was to show that Sylvia was unhappy with city life. “Life in the cities in Jewett's works is often equated with the withering health of both humans and plants;"(Charles Johanningsmeier). The author used the imagery of the geranium to show how the hunter affected Sylvia’s life. In the beginning she was one with nature. Then she was wilted and despondent like the geranium.
Jewett presented her readers with a series of conflicting values, all of which may be included under the theme of the country versus the city. According to Erskine, Sylvia chose nature over civilization. The hunter and his gun destroyed the earthly paradise Sylvia lived in. He represented industrialization in the way he offered her money and gave her knowledge about the birds. The heron represented nature and rural life. When Sylvia climbed up the tree, she got a new perspective on life. Sylvia climbed the tree and was able to see the ocean and the beauty of nature. The author used characterization, symbolism, and imagery to show the effect of nature and the countryside on Sylvia. The setting of the woods was tranquil and serene in the beginning and the story proceeded to show how industrialization changed her life. Sylvia was left with her home in the woodlands but her peaceful existence was interrupted by thoughts of the huntsman. In the end Sylvia pondered if choosing the birds was a better choice.