In stories, usually, we think of our traditional hero as a young and strong undefeatable man. In Eudra Welty’s short story “A Worn Path”, it is obviously not the case. Pheonix Jackson, an old shortsighted poor woman may not look as our traditional hero but she goes through a series of events where she displays all the qualities of one. At the start of her journey, we can easily perceive Phoenix’s steadfastness through the woods up a hill. The old lady, despite her age and difficulty to walk, is determined to get to town to get medicine for her sick grandson.
“There was a flicker and then a flame of comprehension across her face, and she spoke.” shows Jackson’s metaphorical rebirth. Phoenix Jackson can be seen as a Christ figure. Retrieving the medicine soothing medicine for her permanently sick grandson can be viewed as God’s grace. She can also be seen as a biblical hero as she has to face temptation and trials on her journey but succeeds unharmed. On her journey, a log is placed across a creek in which Phoenix must cross.
Kendall Madoo 2-02-12 Period 1 In the “the worn path” the protagonist, Phoenix, goes through her journey towards town to get medicine for her grandson. Her journey is block by many obstacles, yet she over comes it because of her determination to get through life. Phoenix’s journey is similar to everyone’s life for how we have to overcome or adapt to the obstacles in our way to get to things that we want. Phoenix faces many obstacles, some that can be overcome and others that she couldn’t overcome. Many people can relate to this lady’s journey, that they had obstacles maybe not as the same, but had a difficulty just like it.
In the short story A Worn Path there us a perfect example of this. Phoenix Jackson continuously shows her perseverance to help her grandson who is ill. Regardless of what type of physical or mental shape she is in she never gave up on her grandson. Phoenix Jackson’s grandson had swallowed lye as a little boy. This unfortunately caused scarring in his throat.
She lives in a small community who travels through the fields and wilderness to get medicine for her sick grandchild. It is a cold December day and when the Earths ground is slippery and unknown; she still finds the determination and will power to travel the distance from the love she feels within. A phoenix is a strong-willed bird, which often represents ‘a rise from the ashes’ or rebirth, and also symbolizes inner strength and a long life. The main character, Phoenix, shows these characteristics as she makes her journey. Although she is old and fragile, she never gives up.
Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” • early December morning • Christmastime • PHOENIX JACKSON: o very old (she jokes she doesn’t know how old) o black o small o red ’do-rag o cane (umbrella used as) o long dress (dark striped) o long apron (from sugar sack) o walks slowly o walks side to side (cane) o unlaced shoes (can’t tie laces, can’t bend over) o skin = wrinkled like tree bark o skin = yellow burning under the dark o eyes = blue with age o hair = down to neck, in “frail” ringlets but still black, smells like copper (?) • skin & hair hint to a vitality under the age • DANGERS: o her age & frailty o untied shoelaces in the woods o animals o hill (up & down) o thorn bushes (snag her dress) o log over stream o barbed wire fence o bulls & snakes o alligators o no path through corn field o dog o strangers (white strangers, at that) • worried her dress won’t get torn – somewhere special to go • MYSTERY: o we don’t know where she’s going OR why she’s going there o until the end • hill: o always makes her tired,
Although she may not be wealthy, she is very “neat and tidy” (95). And she is still very lively, because she is willing to go through this intricate journey yet again, and it also seems that Phoenix is very fond of life itself, since she talks to the animals in the forest, “out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits...” (95). Welty writes, “her hair came down on her neck in the frailest of ringlets, still black” (95), which represents that she is still far from being dead. When Phoenix meets the scarecrow, another symbol for death, instead she dances with it, as if representing that death is not near. Phoenix is even able to joke at
Page 1 Title: A Worn Path Author: Eudora Wetly Setting: The setting of this story begins in 1941 in Southwestern Mississippi countryside in the fields and ends in the town of Natchez medical center. It was very early in the morning on a bright and frozen day in the month of December on Christmas day. Phoenix Jackson is a small and very old lady who started her day walking in the wilderness on her way towards town to pick up medicine for her grandson. She’s has been going back and forth trying to get medicine to sooth her grandson’s sore throat. Plot: The exposition of the story is about Phoenix Jackson an elder negro women with her courage and determination to go against all the odds against her that gives the impact in the story, The rising action of this story begins shortly after Phoenix Jackson went deeper and deeper down the road between high green colored banks.
Kim Adams Professor Jones English Comp II 20 September 2012 IT’S NOT THE DESTINATION, IT’S THE JOURNEY In Eudora Welty’s story “A Worn Path” about an elderly black woman making a long journey, I realized this journey she is making is the biggest and, perhaps most important, journey of her life. In this story Phoenix Jackson takes a worn path to the city every year to get medicine for her sick grandson. Throughout her journey she comes across many obstacles; animals in the wild, a harassing hunter, untied shoelaces, and snippety nurses. In spite of all these obstacles she carries on and trudges through her journey to get to her destination. (Welty, 1941) We would all be wise to take a lesson from Phoenix on carrying on through the tough
Likewise, Phoenix Jackson is described as an elderly woman who is old and wrinkly, but has a golden hue to her skin which is reminiscent of the ancient bird’s feathers. Also, symbolically, her journey to the hospital is also similar to that of the journey of the phoenix to the sun. Welty uses this symbolism to better convey the characteristics of the protagonist. Throughout the story we are able to see some of the obstacles that Phoenix has to overcome. First, the environmental hardships of the weather are difficult.