Symbolism

The Yellow Wallpaper.
*The women in the wall - I think that the women in the wall is her. She is trapped and can't get out. At certain times she disappears and seems to hide things, just like she does from John.
*The child - She acts very childish and the child symbolizes her innocence.
* The yellow wallpaper - the story sees it at being old, torn, damaged and something that needs to be fixed. I think that it symbolizes her life. She needs to be renewed just like the wallpaper.
*The husband - The husband treats her like a child. He controls her life and even puts her in a room that should belong to a baby or child. By him treating her like that, he is reenforcing her behavior.
*The nailed down bed - signified how she felt stuck where she was and couldn't get out.

The White Heron
*The color white - symbolizes the girl's innocence. She is very naive and scared. She lives a very simple life and when the boy comes, she doesn't know how to interact. As soon as she learns that he is nice, she is his best friend.
*The cow - the cow is constantly running away and having someone go and get it. I think that the cow is an escape for the girl.
*The Heron - The heron, to the girl, represents freedom. She grew up working in a factory and never truly having anything to herself. This is her one chance to have something that means a lot to her, to herself.