"Doe Season"

Book Review # 116311

English > Analysis
Literature > American

"Doe Season"

An analysis of the theme and character development of Andy in "Doe Season" by David Michael Kaplan.

856 words () | 0 sources | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how in "Doe Season," David Michael Kaplan depicts the transition from childhood to adolescence through Andy, a nine-year-old girl who is struggling to find her place in the world and society. The paper examines how in "Doe Season," Andy and her father go on a hunting trip and how, throughout the story, Andy is conflicted between pleasing her father and coming to terms with own individuality.

From the Paper:

"Kaplan's use of the name "Andy," which is a common boy's name, helps suggest the conflict she between her own individuality and her father's expectations. "Andy" which is a common boy's name also helps introduce the conflict she is experiencing. In "Doe Season," the question is asked of her "what are you gonna be... [a] boy or a girl?"(343) To which she quickly and definitively replies "I'm a Girl"(343). However when it comes to her name, Andrea or Andy the nickname given to her by her father, her response is less definitive: "Doesn't matter, [e]ither"(343). Coming of age is a key turning point in a person's life, in which one of life's lessons is learned. The indecision between her choosing between the name Andy or Andrea demonstrates her struggle to break away from being daddy's little girl to being a young lady. "