10. She has a little sick Grandson 11. Phoenix has a bad memory; she forgot why she even took the trip at the
“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.
In the beginning of the story, Dee comes to her mother's home with a much different appearance as an educated urban girl while her family members are as the backward sharecroppers at a remote village. The central conflict in the story is the quilt made by Maggie and Dee's mother, aunt (Big Dee), and grandmother. Dee insists on taking the quilt home to display in her home but Mrs. Johnson informs her that she promises to give the quilt to Maggie once she marries John Thomas (Walker 284). After Dee hears that the quilt has already been promised to Maggie, she is worried that if Maggie is using and touching the delicate quilt on a daily basis as a warm blanket and then
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.
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.
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.
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.
The short story, “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is filled with symbolism necessary to convey the message intended by the author. This message is one of courage and dedication on the part of the main character, Phoenix Jackson, an old African American grandmother, on a journey to town for medicine for her grandson. It is the symbolism, however, used by Welty, that takes this story to a higher level of distinction on the part of Jackson’s heroic characteristics. The story begins with the description of Phoenix Jackson aptly symbolized with various metaphors that express her age and her commitment to her task at hand. For instance, “She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows, moving a little from side to side in her steps, with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a pendulum in a grand-father clock.” .
The old Negro woman in “A worn path” of Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson, is just a normal one, but her special characters. In spite of the old age, she is very brave, strong and optimistic. Besides, she is an old woman who gives her grandson a great love. In order to meet a doctor to take medicine for her beloved grandson, with her brave, strength and optimism, she overcame the extremely difficult journey to go to faraway town. A path she had to go was a worn path with so many troubles.
The Theme of love in A Worn Path The story “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is about an old black woman named Phoenix Jackson who goes through this path where she encounters many obstacles to get medication for her ill grandson. Phoenix faces many obstacles such as animals, her advanced age, and prejudice. Finally at the end of her travels Phoenix arrives at the city and goes into the building where she is suppose to get the medication when she forgets what she came to the city for. The nurses continually ask Phoenix if she is ok, and she would only stay quiet, until finally a nurse asked Phoenix if her grandson was ok or if he had died. From there on we don't know if Phoenix’s grandson is dead, but we do know that she walked that worn path, because of the love she felt for her grandson.