Doe Season

Usage of Symbols in “Doe Season” by David Michael Kaplan

L.J. Sbardella

The use of symbols in literature can bring a more clear meaning to the reader. In David Michael

Kaplan’s “Doe Season”, the symbols used are all surrounding the main character Andy’s transformation

from childhood to adulthood.

The first symbol used is the woods. In this story this shows Andy’s comfort and innocence in the

woods. “They are a still the same woods, the thought made her feel good” (512), introduced

immediately by Kaplan to show how Andy, a child still, starts in the woods. Giving the

symbolism that Andy is still in the innocence of her childhood. Andy is going hunting with her father,

Charlie Spoon, and Mac. Charlie Spoon feels that Andy shouldn’t be along for the trip, “she’ll just add to

the noise”, (512). Andy, though just nine years old, is a little tomboy and her father agrees that she’s not

as fragile as Charlie and Mac feel she is. Andy is comfortable going along on the hunting trip, as is her

father. Her comfort shows through the woods in how the animals all seem to come to her. “Animals-

Don’t know how she does it, but they come right up to her”. This symbolizes how she’s not afraid. The

animals can sense her innocence and comfort in her surroundings, hence not fearing her and

approaching her.

The ocean is mentioned as a symbol of womanhood, a symbol of what Andy is to become.

Through the flashback of the ocean, it tells the reader hoe Andy is afraid of being there. She was afraid

to go any further that a few feet into the surf. “Her mother swam and splashed with animal-like

delight” (514), showing how comfortable her mother is. This brings Andy closer to her father, since he

too seemed afraid, “held his white arms above the waist –deep water as if afraid to get wet” (514) It’s

as if Andy is still afraid of becoming a woman. Whereas her mother is comfortable as a woman. So she is

fully at ease, even when her suit falls;...