Literary Analysis Essay on "The White Heron" and "The Open Boat"

Introduction

There has always been a significant consensus view on the role that nature plays in people's lives, and how it influences and affects the personalities, character, behavior, ability, and development of humans. For the most part, nature influences people's ways of life. Notably, it is the environment that affects behavior, and how people relate to nature determines the kind of life that they live. However, for the longest time, social scientists have conducted research to determine whether people's behaviors are determined by how they relate to the environment. To that end, it is essential to note that nearly everything that a human does is in response to nature and the situations surrounding them. On the whole, people's lives are defined by what is around them and what they find in front of them. Either way, "The White Heron," by Sarah Orne Jewett, and "The Open Boat," by Stephen Crane, analyzes the elements in each story that are the basis of interpretation on the role of nature on humans. Whereas nature and human way of life are correlated in more than one ways, this essay compares the role of nature in "The White Heron" and the "The Open Boat," as well as analyzing different literal elements in each story that are the basis of interpretation of the relationship between people and nature. Besides, the essay analyzes and compares elements of each story that develop the view of the correlation.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The relationship between humans and nature in "The White Heron," and "The Open Boat," as Parashar, Archana, and Kumar (105) declare how the two authors view the perspective of life and nature. "The White Heron," which was written by Sarah Orne Jewett, and "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane both revolve around a character or group of characters. However, the difference between the two books arises when one starts to examine the relationship between humans and nature. "The White Heron" ultimately demonstrates that humans have the ability to control nature. On the other hand, "The Open Boat" illustrates how humans are powerless before nature.

In "The Open Boat," Crane makes his themes readily apparent. The characters in "The Open Boat" are much aware of their dooming situations. They experience difficult times to place themselves in the context of nature. Within the first few paragraphs of "The Open Boat," Haque and Salma (2017) argue that men have a literal sense of unconsciousness when subjected in the middle of non-human world. As quoted by the narrator, "As each slaty wave of water neared, it shut down everything from the view of the men seating in the boat." Haque and Salma (2017) contend that the literal blindness represents substantial, metaphorical blindness in the context of their situation. Since the men in the boat are unable to see around them, similarly, they are unable to comprehend their environment as well as their insignificant place in nature. As argued by Haque and Salma (2017), when men are subjected in the context of nature, Crane demonstrates that they are so dwarfed in a way that it renders them literally and metaphorically blind. The correspondent in "The Open Boat," reflects on the situation throughout the piece. To give an illustration, at the end of the narrative: "He thought I am going to drown, can it be possible?" in this case, the illustrator is having trouble to comprehend his position in nature. He imagines that it is not possible for nature to doom him for such a cruel fate after everything he has been through. The shortsightedness of the narrator is symbolized by the literal blindness of being subjected to the natural phenomenon of water. Besides, it foreshadows the theme that a human is vulnerable in the context of nature.

On the other hand, "The White Heron," takes a staggering movement that has a more complex perspective as compared to "The White Boat," with regard to people and their relationships with nature. Although Jewett illustrates a clear control over nature, characters such as Sylvia experience complex relationships with nature. Ultimately, in "The White Heron," Jewett demonstrates that humans may have the choice to control nature if they choose to do so. According to Parashar, Archana, and Kumar (108), Jewett starts by contrasting the Ornithologist and Sylvia as two potential modest for relationships between humans and nature. In the initial paragraphs of the piece, Sylvia is described as embracing nature and the environment: "It seems as if she had never been alive before she came to live at the farm. She will never wish to go home" (Jewett, 527). As described by Parashar, Archana, and Kumar (103), this statement establishes that Sylvia not only embraces nature, but she is also in harmony with nature. Later on, this situation is contrasted by the Ornithologist. Parashar, Archana, and Kumar (106) quote, "Sylvia would have liked the Ornithologist better without the gun. She wonders why he had to kill every bird that she loves so much." The extract is a clear demonstration of the antagonistic relationship between an Ornithologist and nature. The extract indicates that the Ornithologist makes a conscious choice of manipulating nature for his satisfaction and pleasure.

It is pertinent to note that in "The White Heron," the essential theme demonstrates that humans can control nature. The personal choice centers them in a metaphorical position, whereby they have control over nature. However, Stephen Crane, in "The Open Boat," demonstrates that humans have little to no control over nature.

Works Cited

Haque, Salma. "Nature's Paradoxicality in Stephen Crane's" The Open Boat"." ASA University Review 11.1 (2017).

Parashar, Archana, and Mukesh Kumar. "Communicating the Quest for Sustainability: Ecofeminist Perspectives in Sarah Orne Jewett's 'A White Heron'." Journal of Human Values 25.2 (2019): 101-112.