Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

Most people accomplish difficult tasks with support systems such as family or friends. Phoenix knows she is alone in the world to care for her grandson. This knowledge of solitude makes Phoenix’s mission all the more difficult. The incident with the white hunter along her travel also demonstrates Jackson’s determination. As stated by Dennis Sykes, “Phoenix realizes that the importance of the trip far exceeds the possible harm that can be done to her brittle frame”(151). Phoenix’s ability to stare down possible bodily harm all for the sake of her grandson’s wellbeing demonstrates her heroic determination. By overcoming adversity, Phoenix’s determined character is revealed very well.

A phoenix is a mythical bird that would live for 500 years, be consumed by fire and then rise from its own ashes. The name Phoenix is appropriate for the main character because she is very old, wise, and strong. Phoenix has traveled the same worn path several times over the years. She knows the many challenges she faces including nature, persecution from others, and her health. Like the bird, Phoenix continues to rise every time she must travel to town to get the medicine for her grandson. She is persistent and keeps going no matter what happens along the

Great descriptions are used to illustrate Phoenix Jackson. In the beginning, Welty states that Phoenix has her head tied in a red rag with a dark striped dress reaching down to her shoe tops and an equally long apron (274). Kevin Moberly notes in his article, “Toward the North Star: Eudora Welty 's ‘A Worn Path’ and the Slave Narrative Tradition” how a critic points out that Phoenix seems to be “wearing the traditional garb of slavery” (113). This assumption would make sense if Phoenix were a “house slave” who worked in her owner’s home cooking the meals for him and his family. Furthermore, the story mentions that Phoenix is an old woman, but it does not give a precise age, so the reader, characters, and even Phoenix herself do not know how old she is. For instance, when the hunter is introduced he asks, "How old are you, Granny?" “There is no telling mister,” she said, “no telling" (278). This

What reaches would you go to in order to aid the ones you love? In “A Worn Path,” by Eudora Welty, the reader is taken on Phoenix Jackson’s, the main character’s, journey to the doctor’s office to obtain the medications needed for her ill grandson. Having to commute in such difficult conditions, Phoenix endures through the dense and tiresome woods, stretching from the countryside to the town. After persevering through the long journey to her destination, Phoenix arrives at the building and receives the medication she needs. Welty concludes the story in neglect of a “resolution” by prolonging Phoenix’s journey to a store. In “Is Phoenix Jackson’s Grandson Really Dead?”, a literary analysis on “A Worn Path,” also by Eudora Welty, Welty responds to a common question that she receives regarding the status of the main character’s grandchild. In her essay, she argues that, in general, the focal point of the story is the grandmother’s journey, not whether or not the grandson is alive or deceased.

In the story, “A Worn Path”, the point of view in the story is told from a third-person,

In “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, the use of third person limited point of view occurs on many occasions throughout the story. The author’s utilization of this common literary technique allows the reader to become more involved on a personal level with the main character, Phoenix Jackson. It also allows for a deeper understanding of her perspective of the world around her as seen and experienced by an old, uneducated, woman who wishes to do nothing more than to care for her ailing grandson, even though the time for his care and concern is long since passed. The author’s adherence to this presentational format allows the artistic freedom to express to the reader the inner thoughts of the main character. Her illusions and delusional episodes

In the story “A Worn Path” by Eudora Wetly, an elderly woman goes to Natchez, Mississippi in order to get medicine for her sick grandson. As she travels, she comes across many difficulties, including a young hunter with a gun and two howling dogs. Despite her age and frailty, she makes it to Natchez to get the medicine that her grandson needs. Although she receives condescending looks and impatient glances, she continues on and reaches her goal. The story states, “Then she gave a tap with her cane on the floor. ’This is what come to me to do,' she said. 'I going to the store and buy my child a little windmill they sells, made out of paper. He going to find it hard to believe there such a thing in the world. I'll march myself back where he waiting,

The biggest message in A Worn Path is gratitude towards others that help you in life. This old lady Phoenix Jackson sacrifice is potentially her life as she goes on this mission to get medicine for her dying grandson. She goes through all these hardships and obstacles, but when she gets back home her grandson will not thank her, it is just something he expects her to do is take care of him. Children think it is an adults’ duty to make sure they are okay and never think about giving gratitude for what the adult did for them. Shown at the end of the story

“A Worn Path” is set in the familiar woods and an ordinary town. In the setting, the author, Welty, places a believable character, old lady Phoenix Jackson. She is an ordinary old lady with believable traits.

Eudora Welty was born April 13, 1909, in Jackson, Mississippi she was an American author of both short stories and novels including one short story that will be discussed in this paper “A Worn Path”. “A Worn Path” was written in the south around the early 1940s 1941 during the time when African Americans were still being treated as if they were not as important as any other white person of the same age, gender in the south. A Worn Path” may seem like just a story about a loving old grandmother trying to take care of her grandson by taking a long journey to receive his medicine but the surface it is truly about not matter what was done in the past to reach equality we have reached not progress so the future and the past are the identical but

In the short story “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty, a little, old lady by the name of Phoenix Jackson is the main character. Phoenix travels each week to town for her grandson who swallowed lye and burned his throat. Each week it gets harder and harder for her to travel back and forth.

There are several different interpretations of A Worn Path, by Eudora Welty. Some believe that it is a story about life and death or about strength. While others believe it is about the love that a grandmother has for her grandchild. Although I am not completely opposed to the opinions of others, it is clearly a story that demonstrates a theme of racial inequality and the struggles African Americans had to endure to obtain freedom. The path itself is a symbol that makes it apparent that this is a story about racism. There is also evidence in the appearance of the main character, Phoenix, a black woman who is wearing a red bandana, apron, and a striped dress. Lastly, the supporting characters in the story such as, the white hunter,

Eudora Welty’s story, “A Worn Path” is a story which represents the phoenix. The legend of the Phoenix is a magical bird, with radiant features believed to be colorful and vibrant. The legendary Phoenix is described to have half red legs, covered in scales of yellow-gold talons and striking blue eyes like sapphire. The connection of Phoenix Jackson to the legendary Phoenix is effectively established by considering the similar characteristics of her appearance and behavior. From the start Phoenix is acquainted with rich descriptive passages that give help give insight to every small detail. Phoenix’s physical attributes, more importantly her complexion is described in depth as “…a golden colour ran underneath, and the two knobs of her cheeks

In a world that is so diverse, social discrimination is an issue that many have to face everyday. Discrimination can be used by an individual's: race, age, religion, and even one's class. A Worn Path, written by Eudora Welty is about a woman by the name of Phoenix who goes on a long journey to get medication for her grandson. On her journey she comes in contact with a hunter, and many other complications. In the short story, an overall theme of social discrimination is shown through the use of Racism, Ageism and Classism.

The author of “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty creates a symbolic passage in which the elderly protagonist is challenged by the path’s inhabitants and various prejudices. Throughout the story, Phoenix encounters various dangers, and mysterious occurrences in the forest as she walks on a path. Welty uses symbolism to connect many subjects, such as birds and a windmill, to reveal multiple truths in modern life. The author elaborates on life’s countless tribulations, and how they affect the main character. Throughout the short story, the author challenges the reader “both to unlearn and to relearn” the points of which was perceived as regular and to rethink what the reader thought was true. (Orr “Unsettling Every Definition of Otherness”)