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.
Also, the author describes Phoenix’s skin as having “a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead…” (Welty). All of these examples tie back with the long lifespan of a phoenix. Jackson’s whole mission in this story is to receive and deliver medicine for her grandson. “She makes these trips as regular as clockwork” (Welty). Just like the mythological phoenix rising every day, Phoenix Jackson consistently rises up to the challenge of taking a long journey to aid her grandson.
Sacrifice in Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” and Despair in “The Whistle” The Sympathetic narrator in “The Whistle” and “A Worn Path” each speak of great sacrifice has been made by Phoenix Jackson taking a journey to get medicine for her grandson, so he can live. The deep despair of Jason and Sara Morton, in their attempt to save their farm that threatened not only their tomatoes, but their lives respectively as well. Phoenix Jackson, a determined woman, never gave up even in the hardest times. Jackson knew she had to complete the journey for her ill grandson. One of the first obstacles she runs into is the hill.
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.
“A Worn Path” Essay Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" is a story about an old black woman who must hunt medicine for her sick nephew. Phoenix Jackson, the protagonist, must travel from the pinewoods where she lives and attempt to fight through the blizzarding cold to reach the hospital at the closest neighboring city of Natchez where she intends to find help. In this story, Welty exemplifies the concept that people can, and do overcome the trials and tribulations of life with the lasting hope and strength provided by loved ones. Here, it is the jeopardizing health issue of her nephew and ultimately her love for him that keeps her going. Welty illustrates this concept with her use of symbolism, dialogue, and conflict of the characters.
Although this is an intense situation for such an elderly woman, it brings out Phoenix’s strength, as her name symbolizes; rebirth. The hunter makes Phoenix find her confidence, and pushing her further on her journey, representing drive, and willpower. Elisa Allen is a very intelligent person, living a terribly boring, understimulated life. In “The Chrysanthemums,” by John Steinbeck, Elisa fills that void by gardening, raising chrysanthemums. The Tinker, travels up
He taught what plants were good to eat and warned her of the ones that were poisonous. While it was forbidden to enter the forest, this was the only way to hunt and gather. As she was hunting in the forest, Katniss met a boy who was doing the same task as her. Eventually, Gale and Katniss became best friends. They shared their kill, because Gale had a large family to fend for as well.
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.
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
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.