"Doe Season"

Through out David Kaplan’s “Doe Season” There are several examples of symbolism. Firstly, when The story opens, the main character, nine year old Andy mentions that they are in the “same woods that lay behind her house” even thought they have traveled “for miles and miles” she is convinced that these are the same woods (Kaplan 456). Andy believes that these woods are the same as the ones behind her house to mask her fear of the unknown. In the mind of a nine year old, if there are the same woods, they are familiar. Andy compares the woods to the ocean, which she was afraid of because of its size, but in essence she is afraid of the woods. Finally, Andy spots a deer, and her father allows her to take a shot at is, because she is the one that spotted it. Andy is able to shoot the dear, however she is not able to kill it. She then experiences great guilt. In her sleep an owl awakens her, and nags at her. The owl is symbolizing her conscience, reminding her of what she has done, and the animal that is suffering at her hand. Finally they find the injured dear and begin to cut it. Andy runs, but she is running away from so much more than the blood and guts. She is running away from what her father has been trying to do, which is turn her into the son that he never had.

Work cited
Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. Literature : Reading, Reacting, Writing. 6th ed.Boston: Heinle, 2006.