A White Heron

American literary regionalism was a movement that emphasized setting and specific place-based features, such as customs, history, dialect, and landscape. Like many of Jewett’s stories, “A White Heron” occurs in the countryside of coastal Maine. Place takes precedence, as the plot, dialogue, incidents, and characterization could not develop in a different landscape. The white heron’s habitat is integral to the plot, and the bird’s homeland is reflected realistically. White herons, also known as great egrets, primarily live in Florida and the Gulf Coast but migrate as far north as Maine in the summer; the text accurately shows the bird appearing in Maine in June.

White herons live in marshes, ponds, shorelines, and mudflats that are also accurately depicted in the story. The birds commonly venture into open areas looking for fish. Jewett portrayed the white heron correctly by stating it nested in shrubbery near the water. One reason the bird was rare in Jewett’s time is that its feathers were sought for hats and other garments, decimating its population in the late 19th century. Conservation efforts saved the bird from extinction.

The dialogue and customs in the story also showcase regionalism. Mrs. Tilley speaks with a dialect that uses misspellings, unique word choices, and interesting sentence structure. Words like “squerl’s” and “ain’t” are part of her vernacular. The customs of Sylvia and her grandmother’s farm life, such as milking the cow, feeding hens, and cooking, are illustrated as well. Their pastoral life features independence and living off the land amicably with nature. Further, Mrs. Tilley follows the custom of assisting one’s family when she takes Sylvia to her farmstead to live, instead of letting the child suffer in the city. Though Mrs. Tilley needed help on the farm, Sylvia thrives in an environment better suited to her introverted personality. The custom of hospitality is apparent when Mrs. Tilley welcomes the stranger, the ornithologist, into their home.

The Industrial Revolution was a period of economic development in the 18th century that replaced animal-powered agriculture with water- and steam-powered manufacturing as the basis of the economies of Europe and the United States. New manufacturing processes like the assembly line and technologies like the railroad completely transformed economic, social, and political life. Although economic productivity and aggregate wealth exploded during this period, they brought with them growing inequality, pollution, urban slums, and extreme economic exploitation.

In opposition to the pollution and habitat destruction brought by the Industrial Revolution, the conservation movement of the 1800s aimed to preserve natural resources and protect threatened species and ecosystems. Gradually, federal and state governments in the US protected forests and other ecosystems throughout the country and began protecting endangered species. The National Park Service cites three major historical strands of “conservation thinking” that developed during this period: “utilitarian conservation (natural resource management), preservationist conservation (preserving scenic nature), and wildlife habitat protection” (Chapman, Ann E. “Nineteen Century Trends in American Conservation.” National Park Service). The conservation movement peaked between 1850 and 1920, when Jewett was writing regionalist pieces. Conservation efforts led to the creation of numerous organizations, including the Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Foundation.

With its themes of ecology and the individual’s role in nature, Jewett’s story reflects the conservation movement. Her writing advocates for a simpler life, free of urban features like factories, and argues against destroying wilderness for human profit. In her writing, including “A White Heron,” readers identify her veneration of the natural environment and belief that wilderness is beneficial to people’s health. Today, the white heron after which Jewett’s story is named is the symbol of the National Audubon Society.