Doe Season’s Initiation Theme and use of Symbols

In “Doe Season” the author David Michael Kaplan shows a girl’s initiation from a childhood into adulthood. It shows becoming a girl as a rite of passage. The author uses many symbols through out the story to reveal Andy’s discovery of her own identity.
In the beginning of the story Andy remembers a trip she took with her family to the New Jersey Shore. The ocean is something that frightens her and the smell makes her think of death. At one point Andy’s mom’s swimsuit top came off because of the waves in the ocean. Andy was her mom’s breasts swinging freely and looked around in embarrassment. The author uses this memory as a pre conscious imitation to Andy what she will be—a woman. At this point Andy is not ready to accept or value the fact that it is something that will happen.
When Andy spots the doe her father tells her that she can take the shot since she spotted it. Charlie say’s to Andy, “That’s right, she can’t…She’s not old eno...