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.
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.
Eudora Welty’s A Worn Path is a story about an elderly African American woman named Phoenix Jackson who embarks on a journey to the city. In the city, Phoenix needs to obtain medicine for her son whose throat has been damaged drinking lye several years ago. During Jackson’s travel, she encounters several obstacles, some dangerous and some mild. Written in 1941, this story describes what sort of life people like Phoenix Jackson lived in 1940’s America . Slavery in America was abolished in 1865 after the Southern States had surrendered to the Northern States in the Civil War.
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.
“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.
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. By making these regular trips, she restores life to herself and her grandson. Phoenix’s arrival at the hospital may also be interpreted as being reborn. “There was a fixed and ceremonial stiffness over {Phoenix’s} body.” shows Jackson’s metaphoric death. “There was a flicker and then a flame of comprehension across her face, and she spoke.” shows Jackson’s metaphorical rebirth.
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.
Then some of the women started sharing their feelings about how their loved ones actions have impacted their life. I felt a little more comfortable. They did talk a little about the disease concept and I was surprised. I did start to feel a sense a hope and it felt like family. When the meeting was over they closed it with the serenity prayer.
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
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.