A Worn Path By Eudora Welty Analysis

Eudora Welty’s a Worn Path is a powerful, compelling and inspiring story if one can see through the text into the true meaning the author was trying to convey. I have seen this story as a metaphor for people who take the “worn path” instead of the easy one- with no struggle. It is those people who prosper through the struggle life hands them and figure out how to make them lemonade, that achieve their goal and destination in

The story of A Worn Path goes perfectly with the title; it is a slow paced mood with lots of symbolic messages associated with life. Phoenix Jackson is just representation of one person reaching a simple goal but for her may take a little more effort. Bound by her physical ailments of being old, slow, and brittle she never turns back giving up her goal. Through the symbolic obstacles that author Eudora Welty so cleverly puts together, puts a sense of what everyone goes through in life. Eudora Welty brings forth a theme; with enough persistence and boldness we can overcome any obstacle that we face and reach our goal. As we go through our life no matter what circumstances we may be in, there should be nothing that keeps us from achieving. Just like Phoenix Jackson she works towards a goal so important to her heart; she doesn’t let any obstacle come in her way.

“A Worn Path” is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is based on an elderly African-American grandmother named Phoenix Jackson, who goes for a walk to the town of Natchez on a cold December morning to get some medicine for her ailing grandson. This story speaks of the obstacles Phoenix endured along the way and how she overcame them. The theme, central idea or message that the author wishes to convey to his or her readers, in “A Worn Path” is one of determination. Phoenix Jackson is determined to get to Natchez, in order to get medicine for her grandson; she does not let any obstacles get in her way. The theme of determination is shown in many ways throughout this short story.

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In this short story “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, I will be analyzing symbolism. In the story “A Worn Path” the author uses symbolism to create a figurative explanation of the occurrences in her journey. This story has distinct symbols from myths, historical, and biblical events. The character Phoenix Jackson has various trials to go through on her way to town to get more medicine for her ill grandson.

The title of the story, “A Worn Path,” is foreshadowing something coming to an end. In Phoenix Jackson's case, it could mean the last time she walks the path or it could even very well be her life. Eudora Welty describes Phoenix walking slowly in the dark pine shadows with a cane, indicating the rough journey ahead. Early on in the story, she encounters a thorn patch. In this story, it states,“Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never want to let old folks pass, no sir. Old eyes thought you was a pretty little green bush.” The thorns represent some of the hurdles that hinder you if you are born black in America, especially in Jackson's time. The author uses imagery in the story to make the reader feel as if they know her. “God watching me the whole time. I come to stealing.” When Jackson talks to herself aloud the reader imagines the young spirited side of her.

1. The theme of the story is: Racism is an issue that never seems to disappear no matter how much people say it does.

“A Worn Path” tells of an elderly and frail black woman and of the hardships that she must overcome. Upon reading the story, you realize that there is more to the story than meets the eye. She faces many roadblocks along her way. Phoenix faces many dangerous obstacles along her way, for a person of her age. She faces racism from some of characters she meets along the way. Phoenix faces inferior treatment, as though she is nothing more than some insect to squash. This story is about not only her ‘journey’ to Natchez, but also about her journey through society and the struggle to overcome the dangers, being treated inferior, and the racism.

The short story "A Worn Path," is around an old African American woman named Phoenix Jackson who makes an arduous trip into town needing prescription for her sick grandson. Amid her outing she talks resoundingly to herself in an urging way to bear the troublesome trek. She has made this trek commonly some time recently, yet this one appears to be essentially harder to oversee. After her daring endeavors and love for her lone grandson, she is effective at recovering the solution. Shockingly, the creator persuades it might have been her final excursion on the way into town. Creator Eudora Welty utilizes imagery, symbolism, and theme in "A Warn Path" to delineate the principle character's hindrances and difficulties to accomplish her

Eudora Welty’s A Worn Path is a short story about a very old African-American woman who courageously goes the distance in unyielding circumstances. In the 1940s, in Mississippi, Phoenix Jackson walks all alone to Natchez for half a day in December to reach the medical clinic. At the clinic she receives medicine for her grandson, who swallowed lye several years ago. She makes this trip twice a year. Phoenix has made this journey so many time that her path to Natchez is like a worn path. "Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far.... Something always take a hold of me on this hill ..." The story follows the old woman as she struggles and fights her way down that path to get to the clinic.

“Critical discussion of "A Worn Path" largely has been concerned with thematic interpretation of the work, particularly the story's racial, mythological, and Christian motifs.” (2)

Parallel connections help the reader become well attach to what the writer is trying to convey. All great literature lets the reader establish strong personal connections like in the short story, A Worn Path by Eudora Welty. Phoenix who is the main character portrays themes such as perseverance, Race, and old age.The reader can connect those themes in the relations to their own life.

The story is about an elderly African American woman who goes on a journey on a road in a small town area to get medicine for her grandson. She expresses herself through her surrounding, her language, and talking about the pain she feels in her old fragile bones. This shows that "A Worn Path" is a story of love and determination that pushes Phoenix toward a goal.

Phoenix Jackson lived back in the country past the pines. She lived a lifetime of hardship. Her role in society is an old black woman in a white world, though she is not ashamed of her inferior position. She has walked a path periodically to get medicine for her chronically ill grandson who drank lye. On a cold December day, she shares one of her journeys to the hospital in Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path." This specific journey is examined closely of an old woman full of dedication, dignity and high morale.

  The short story "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, is a descriptive story of a grandmother's difficult journey, for a grandson she loves. Her devotion to her grandson and wanting to provide him with a better lifestyle, was her motivation to overcome these trials. On this trip, Phoenix Jackson, the grandmother, struggles against old age, nature, and reality.