Phoenix In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

Phoenix’s very name, which is derived from the name of the mythical Egyptian bird that is burned and resurrected from its own ashes, is the reader’s first hint at the character’s perseverance. Secondly, Phoenix is making this long, cold, difficult journey on foot, which is yet further testament to her determination. She is depicted as having “ skin [with]...a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead,” and these connections between Phoenix and trees, which often represent endurance in nature, paint a vivid picture of the woman’s strength (Welty). Perseverance is even more so revealed when Phoenix is faced with the challenge of crossing a creek on a log, to which she says, ““Now comes the trial,”” and “leveling her cane fiercely before her like a festival figure in some parade, she began to march across” (Welty). After she has completed this feat, she remarks, almost proudly and with satisfaction, “'I wasn't

With the first name of Phoenix, Ms. Welty is showing the symbol of a Greek mythological bird that could live to be one hundred to one thousand years. The old phoenix dies in a pile of ashes, much like the ashes used to make lye, only to reemerge a new magnificent, colorful bird, to live another cycle of life (Wikipedia). Much like the bird, Phoenix Jackson has a red rag around her head, a wrinkled face with yellow illuminating skin, ringlets hanging from her hair, a striped dress, and a bleached sugar sack apron (Welty). In addition, similar, her age, like the bird, Phoenix is aged but wise, likely close to one hundred years, reemerges back to life once she received the medicine her grandson needed. Even the last name of Jackson is likely to be a symbol of a Doctor, who according to an essay by Melisa D. Stang, “Parting the Curtain on Lye Poisoning in “A Worn Path,”” was named Chevalier

Once the North won the American Civil War, slaves in America were emancipated, but they still had to face segregation through out the country. Since Phoenix is an African American, it is reasonable to say she represents that social class as well. Women of that particular time period could be represented by Phoenix, since she is a woman, because they were overcoming the patriarchy of society. Phoenix’s name also depicts her own character as she gets past her obstacles and keeps traveling on the worn path. In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” Phoenix Jackson’s name is symbol of the society that surrounds her and depicts her own character.

Phoenix, on the other hand, was a selfish manipulative old woman who had an obsession with power. She was on a journey through the woods to the city, where she had many encounters. When Phoenix encounters the hunter she steals the money that falls out of his pockets. She always seems to want something for her troubles. However, later in the story while in the hospital, Phoenix has a totally different personality. She seems to have no guilt for the actions she makes.

Phoenix also symbolizes a mythical bird; she has “the regenerative qualities of the bird are seen in Phoenix’s determination each time she suffers a setback,” Like the bird how it gets reborn again Phoenix keeps on getting up from the challenges and keeps on going just like getting reborn again. That is why the author named the main character Phoenix because she is like the mythical bird the phoenix in many ways even the description of Phoenix gives symbolism of her being like the bird. Phoenix wears a red rag to tie her hair and running underneath her skin “a golden color” [welty1274]. The image of the bird is shown in Phoenix’s face “the two knobs of her cheeks were illuminated by a yellow burning under the dark” [Welty 1274]. Her golden tone skin represents the fiery golden red feathers the bird has.

Frequently, old people are described as withered, useless, and reliant on others. Phoenix Jackson from Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” is not a representation of this stereotype. Throughout the story, Phoenix undergoes a trek to retrieve her grave and helplessly ill grandson some medicine, facing adversities that would not be met by most people today, let alone elderly people. Some of the actions Phoenix undertakes could be described as unethical, or very irrational; however, a closer look would show that she was motivated by her compassion for her grandson, her physical and mental strength, and her intense perseverance.

Phoenix also encounters numerous physical obstacles between her and her goal. Shortly after setting out, she becomes entangled in an obstinate bush. She fights what appears to be a losing battle. As Welty describes it, “Her fingers were busy and intent, but her skirts were full and long, so that before she could pull them free in one place they were caught in another” (315; 8). Phoenix seems to maintain a good attitude as she begins to talk to the bush: “Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass, no sir. Old eyes thought you was a pretty little green bush” (315; 8). As she does with all of her other challenges, she

The story focuses on her determination to help her grandson who is ill because he swallowed lye when he was younger. She faces all types of obstacles like racism, poverty, hard travel, the cold weather and her old age. Phoenix starts by making her way through the wilderness and says, “Out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals. . . Keep out from under these feet, little bob-whites” since its winter the animals will probably hibernating and this symbolizes her easy travel. The old lady without hesitation continues her journey up the hill. She says, “Seems like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far.” She uses the chains as a sign of slavery since she is a very old lady she might have been through that rough period of time.

"A Worn Path," by Eudora Welty is a heartbreaking story about the heroic trip of an old African American woman, Phoenix. The readers won't find out right away the plot of the story or why Phoenix won't give up her exhausting trip to town-the conflict of this story-especially on a very cold day. The title, "A Worn Path," indicates that Phoenix has obviously walked down this path many times before-also the fact that she can cross a creek with her eyes closed confirms the title's message.

Overall, Phoenix Jackson’s character adds to the story through her humble, maternal strength. Phoenix’s love for her grandchild brought her through many challenges, but year after year as she completes her trek, she keeps her grandson as her top priority. This overwhelming level of determination allows her to keep hold of her most valuable possession. Through her actions she reveals to the reader that her humble, caring, determined nature allows her to overcome the odds and provide for her family as well as maintain a simple Southern elegance.

Phoenix Jackson is an “old Negro” woman that is making a difficult journey including both physical and mental challenges; she overcomes these trials as a result of her unconditional love for her grandson (Welty 314). She has a similar physical appearance to the mystical phoenix with a “red rag” tied around her head and, “a golden color ran

Phoenix is a strong woman who has seen many things, after all it is a slave narrative. It was meant to show that she has lived through a lot. Such things as hearing gunshots go off near to her. “no sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less then what I done” (Welty 2). It also surprised me when I read that she did not flinch when he pointed his gun at her. To me this seems as if when she was young, her masters had probably shot

People in the story seem to have a reverence for the Phoenix which is shown when a white woman stops to help her tie her shoe which would be highly unlikely in the south at the time. Another incident is when the women at the drugstore in town gives her money for no reason.

Phoenix lived in a society where racism was still running strong. Yet she faced and dealt with that every day of her life. As an African-American slave, she would have toil in the fields, wondering if she would still be alive by the time the sun was setting. Phoenix is visible shaken with a run a scarecrow she believed to be a ghost. She says to image, "'Ghost,' she said sharply, 'who be you the ghost of? For I have heard of nary death close by” (Welty 24).Slave mothers would often show that same fear as they watched the shadows return from the field; wondering if their loved ones were still alive or was going to come home unharmed. Phoenix faced those same fears as a mother and grandmother. If Phoenix was caught in the

Eudora Welty introduces the character Phoenix Jackson in a way that illustrates that Phoenix is a person who endures forces of nature and society; and the meaning of her name is a large hint to the theme of endurance. William M. Jones introduces the idea that Phoenix is a reference to the “legendary bird” that is reborn throughout time; one that endures. In his literary critic, William M. Jones writes, “The references at the beginning of the story announce rather clearly that a comparison with the legendary bird is intended. The similarity becoming more pronounced as the story progresses.” The reference to the bird of endurance can be seen throughout the story, especially when the reader concludes that Phoenix does not remember why she is traveling the path. Her loss of memory is a reference to the Phoenix dying; and at the end of the story, Phoenix remembering her reason for the journey is a representation of being reborn.