A Worn Path Eudora Welty’s, A Worn Path, is about an elderly African-American woman in the 1930’s named Phoenix Jackson, whose love for her grandson takes her on a long and difficult journey. Phoenix’s mission is to make it through the Mississippi woods on her way to town to get medicine from the doctor for her sick grandson. She is faced with many physical, mental and racial obstacles and has to overcome adversity throughout the course of her journey. Phoenix Jackson is a very feeble, old woman who clearly should not be trekking through the forest alone. She first hears a noise in the bushes and warns the wild animals in an effort to show her determination.
Each character plays a part in revealing new information or traits regarding Phoenix. Phoenix first encounters the hunter on her journey across town. She trips in a ditch and the hunter comes to her rescue. The hunter comes across nice at first but as the story goes on hints of racism are thrown at the readers. He constantly calls the old lady “Granny,” which in slave days, the white people often referred to as old women out of
Latisha LC Isaac Eng 1102 Analytical Essay Corrections October 13, 2012 An Analysis of “A Worn Path”, by Eudora Welty Everyone has their own journey in life, and their path might be filled with many ups and downs. For instance, Phoenix Jackson, much like the mythological bird that rises from the ashes, exhibits great perseverance and strength as she faces difficulties and hardships in the short story, “A Worn Path”, by Eudora Welty. Phoenix, who is very old woman, travels to town, through woods and fields, to obtain medication for her sick grandson. Although the path is worn because it had been trailed a many of times, Phoenix faces many wild animals. However, in spite of the negative connotations that wild animals might be a hindrance to Phoenix, they are actually motivation.
“A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is a story of an elderly black woman “ her head tied in a red rag, coming along path through the pinewoods. Her named was Phoenix Jackson” (Welty 82). Phoenix travels a long journey to town to acquire medicine for her grandson at the doctor’s office and the elderly woman goes through struggles against intense fatigue and poor eyesight, as well as such obstacles as thorn bushes and barbed wire and loose dogs such as.“ A black dog with a lolling tongue” (Welty 84). On that note, this illustrates that Phoenix Jackson overcomes many obstacles to reach her destination. It’s December when Phoenix starts on her journey to Natchez and it is a journey she has taken many times before.
“A Worn Path” (Welty, 1941) is a short story telling about the journey that a “very” old black woman takes on Christmas Eve to pick up medication for her grandson’s throat. The third person omniscient narrative, providing a good characterization study, allows the reader to “know” her and observe her actions and words through other’s eyes (Clugston, 2010). Through this point of view, the reader has personal knowledge of the woman and her ability to handle the struggles she encounters and has encountered in her long life. Her name, Phoenix, describes well how she has dealt with life so far—rising from ashes, making something out of nothing. The simple description of her smallness allows the reader to envision her as frail at first, but the reader quickly learns that she is resilient and tough.
A’shanta Griffith Mrs. Meeks English 102 January 15, 2013 A Worn Path Eudora Welty’s O Henry’s Prize story, “A Worn Path”, told a tale of an old African America woman, Phoenix Jackson, who journeys from the woods of Mississippi to the town of Natchez, to receive free medicine for her sick grandson. Throughout her journey, she encounters obstacles, which various viewers perceived. However, other interpretations indicate the powerful meaning of life and death through her adversity. Her destination to town converts from a mission to an adventure as she strolls her way through the old worn path. The three main points that Welty tosses in her story: references from Egyptian mythology to Phoenix Jackson, references to slavery and racism, and the people she encounters, creates the curiosity and suspense in “A Worn Path”.
A Worn Woman In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path”, the main character, Phoenix Jackson, an older, black woman sets off on a long journey to the nearby town, Natchez. Along the way, Phoenix encounters many obstacles such as long paths, wild animals, and people. In addition, she also overcomes racial prejudice. Phoenix finally makes it to the city and receives the free medication for her sick nephew. She walks the worn path because of the love she feels for her grandson.
Worn Path: Symbolism In short, you could say that “A Worn Path” describes the journey of an elderly black woman named Phoenix Jackson who walks from her home to the city to get some medicine for her sick grandson, but it is so much more than that. Phoenix faces many obstacles in her path and she has to overcome all of them to get to the city. She over comes all of these obstacles, not only physically but emotionally as well. Symbolism also presents itself in many parts of “A Worn Path.” When one begins to analyze the symbolism in this story, one should begin at the title. According to Hamm, Jackson’s path is worn not only because she has traveled it many times, but because it has been followed by countless, self-sacrificing others.
Interracial Relationships In Kathryn Stockett’s, The Help, Skeeter writes a book that shows the peak of racial segregation. Minny and Aibileen are very close friends, and they are both maids in Jackson, Mississippi. Skeeter, Elizabeth, and Hilly are white ladies who are friends in a bridge club together. Hilly seems to have friends, but they are not genuine. Hilly treats her mother with no respect and sends her to a nursing home.
The short story “A Worn Path,” by Eudora Welty tells the account of an elderly black woman, who is living during an era of racial discrimination, prejudice, and segregation, on a trek to obtain medication for her ailing grandson. If we do not consider the key symbolisms and themes hidden within the story, such as, hope, perseverance and courage, the story may seem to be a very simple one. Symbolism is used by Eudora Welty throughout the entirety of the story and has been perceived in an abundance of different interpretations. However, this story clearly demonstrates a theme of racial inequality and symbolizes the struggles African Americans have had to endure to obtain freedom. As Phoenix is described in the beginning of the story, she is wearing a “red rag” and a “dark striped” dress (Welty 1).