Different Forms Of Love; Conditional and Unconditional

First, the author of “A White Heron” conveys the idea that humans can love animals in conditional or unconditional ways. In this short story, the young ornithologist expresses his love for animals in a conditional way. This can be seen through his statement: “they’re stuffed and preserved, dozens and dozens of them... I have shot or snared every one myself” (Jewett 10). The ornithologist reveals this when being questioned by Mrs. Tilley about what he does with the birds he hunts. This shows the audience that he loves birds for what they can bring to him: knowledge and inquiry. He does not…