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
The woods were deep and still… Down the hollow was the mourning dove--it was not too late for him” (Welty 1). She also has determination to heal her grandson, who is sick because he swallowed lye, even though it’s a long journey for her when the earth is frozen. Christ figures are important in literature. When authors include a Christ figure, they usually heal others, display loving, kindness, and forgivingness. Christ figures has several crucial meanings throughout the short story.
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.
This story alludes to the struggles they went through and show how hard it was for this group of people to get where they are today. Once analyzing the title for symbols, one can then examine the main characters name and what she did throughout the story. Phoenix’s name alludes to a mythical bird that regenerates itself from ashes. Phoenix is renewed and brings new life to her sick grandson each time she makes the trip on the worn path (Hamm 1). Once Jackson begins her journey she stops along the path to talk to the animals.
Then she opened her eyes and she was safe on the other side.”. The symbolism in this excerpt reveals a sense of blind faith that Jackson’s character has about the world and her capabilities of managing in this world. She never doubts that she will make it to her destination or that she will successfully return with medicine for her grandson. This clever use of symbolism continues as Jackson slowly makes the long journey to town. She talks to the animals such as coons, beetles, and wild hogs scaring them away.
Caroline becomes almost like a guardian angel as she attends to her ill father for several months and also adopts Elizabeth to give her the lifestyle in which she deserves. She almost really does become a guardian angel, as she dies in child birth whilst giving birth to William. This contributes to the theme of birth and creation, as she takes her life to create a new one, in turn entwining the ideas of death and birth together. Victor’s wanting to create the monster stemmed from ‘the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn’ as he wanted to gain all knowledge and become almost God. Following the death of Caroline, Victor becomes engrossed in the creation and the idea of creating a monster and almost usurps the role of God by creating ‘man’, however it can be argued by many that the Monster isn’t a man at all, nor is he treated like one by many due to his looks.
Once she is at the doctor’s office in Natchez, the nurse asks her about her grandson, and Phoenix doesn’t answer for several minutes because she forgot the reason she made the journey. Phoenix encounters racism as another obstacle when a white man hunting with his dog happens upon her and helps her out of the ditch. The hunter points the
All he tried to do is get phoenix to go home to be safe. However phoenix refused to stop and continued down the hill and arrived at the town full of Christmas. She arrived at the doctor’s office and finally remembered her reason for the journey is medicine for her grandson. She then got the medicine and took in home to her grandson. OBSERVATIONS 1.
Brave Orchid, Kingston’s mother, sets this as an example of what not to be in life. The second story begins with the journey of a small girl, who ventures into the wilderness to find an old couple, who teach her the way of the Warrior, as the tale of Fa Mu Lan. The third is the story of her mother, who could not take the sadness of her lost children, and thus decided to go to medical school. She became one of the most respectable doctors in all of china, spreading health and wellness wherever she went. Second to last, comes the hopeless attempt of Brave Orchid to reunite her sister with her husband, who was last spoken to 30 years ago.
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.