My Owl (Group 3) : My Owl

Abigail May Alcott Nieriker

My Owl (Group 3)

<p style='text-align: justify;'> In the hope of inspiring and educating other young female artists, <i>My Owl</i> follows the protagonist from Paris to London as they embark on a journey to find success in their passion for art. Along the way, the protagonist connects with a taxidermy owl, who serves as more than just an inspiration for an art piece. The taxidermy owl is painted by the protagonist, whose work then gets accepted into the Paris Salon, which was a significant achievement for female artists at the time, given the societal circumstances of the art world. The owl follows the young artist through their career and eventually leads the protagonist to more than just a spot in a prestigious art exhibition. The owl fatefully leads the protagonist to meet the man who eventually becomes the husband of the artist. Abigail May Alcott Nieriker provides us with an engaging composition, as most of the story is up for interpretation based on the reader's perception. The figure of the owl acts as a companion to the protagonist, enabling a sense of progress in their artwork. Some readers may interpret this piece as either non-fiction or fiction; with some parts reflecting May Alcott's exhibitions in the Paris Salon, like the protagonist's portrait of an owl. These reflections are unclear though, as there is no concrete distinction directly made by Alcott Nieriker herself. Alcott Nieriker brings life to the stuffed owl, creating an ambiguous representation. </p>