Worn Path Essay

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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. The animals in the story aid Phoenix on her path because they symbolically represent hope and determination. First, the animals in the story aid Phoenix on her path because they symbolically represent determination. For example, Phoenix states, “…like black men…standing in the purple stalks of the withered cotton field. There sat a buzzard” (2). “Black men” in the “cotton field” is figuratively an allusion that reminds Phoenix of the slavery days when black people used to pick cotton. Nonetheless, it took great courage and fight for a black slave to pick cotton, but they did so, sacrificing for the next generation. The buzzard reminds Phoenix that the dreadful path she trails is for her ill grandson, and she was determined to fight, as did slaves, to make it to town. Thus, the buzzard symbolically represents Phoenix’s courage and determination. Further, a “buzzard” is a bird of prey belonging to the Hawk family. In addition, buzzards are black. Figuratively, black represents power, and essentially, represents Phoenix’s strength on this rugged path. Also, buzzards are intimidating

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