Doe Season

In Kaplan’s story there is a theme of initiation, or right of passage. Blood is mentioned on and off throughout the text. The blood suggests a loss of innocence, a transition that takes place in children’s lives when they understand the difference between life and death. Through this commencement children become closer to adults and comprehend more about life and what it means to be alive.
Andy was with the doe in the clearing and the bright moon shown it clearly. “…she had found the doe’s heart, warm and beating. She cupped it gently in her hand.”(Kaplan 521) Her dream was about the balance of life. When you hunt you have the decision: what lives, what dies? The conclusion was hers to choose back when she had the rifle raised to the doe. Her decision was a hard one as she did not want to disappoint or feel belittled by the men around her. She had a connection with the deer in her dream that can really only be felt by those that hunt and ultimately kill. It leaves a mark on you, not so much on you skin, but in your soul. “…her hand pulled free, followed by a steaming rush of blood, more blood than she ever could have imagined—it covered her hand and arm, and she saw to her horror that her hand was steaming.”(521) This passage was talking about the mark taking life leaves on a person. In the dream blood was on her hands, she had harvested a living thing, and she was terrified of this thought. There is however something else it could symbolize.
The changes in a woman from child to adulthood could be symbolized by the previous passage as well. This may not be such an abstract thought. Perhaps this is why the story was written about a doe and not a buck. The connection of one female life to another regardless of the species had strong symbolism. In the dream the mature doe was allowing the young girl a union between them. It was almost like the doe was teaching or showing the girl about life and death.