Phoenix Jackson In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

Symbolism plays a large part within the telling of this story. Symbolism can be found starting with Phoenix Jackson’s name to the small toy she buys her grandson. The name Phoenix is referencing a mythical bird that is said to live out in the desert and capable of living up to around 600 years. The mythical Phoenix is believed to set itself on fire only to rise once again from its ashes. The symbol of the Phoenix expresses the endurance and resilience of Phoenix Jackson. As she makes her way down the path she is embodying the long lasting characteristic of the Phoenix. In addition, Jackson is constantly picking herself back up, and keeping herself together. Just like the mythical bird, Jackson manages to continue on the harsh and tortuous path, rising from her own ashes, so to speak, all to retrieve the necessary medicine for her grandson. While

Welcome to “Life and Death in Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’” an article written by Ronald Bartel. In his article, Bartel analyzes the character of Phoenix Jackson from Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path”. Due to the limitation of time, we will be focusing on one major key in Bartel’s article. Today we will discuss Bartel’s view on how Phoenix Jackson’s journey to the city helps her prepare herself for her own death.

Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path' is a story that emphasizes the natural symbolism of the surroundings. As the story begins, we are introduced to our main character, Phoenix Jackson; she is described as a small, old Negro woman. I believe that the name Eudora Welty gives our main character is very symbolic. The legend of the Phoenix is about a fabled sacred bird of ancient Egyptians. The bird is said to come out of Arabia every 500 years to Heliopolis, where it burned itself on the altar and rose again from its ashes, young and beautiful. Phoenix, the women in the story, represents the myth of the bird because she is described as being elderly and near the end of her life. Phoenix can hardly walk and uses a cane

Phoenix Jackson’s body, that is described, and her ethnicity are worth studying. At this time in history, the nineteen thirties, being a woman and African American were both downsides to what would have been desired: Caucasian and male. Phoenix Jackson's skin tone is also described very differently as well, with patches of multi skin tone with blue rage eyes (288). At first it is another noteworthy description, but when view deeper it could represent multiple things. Like many rebirthing that of a phoenix (mythical bird, that rebirth in a fireball, and reborns from their ashes) goes through, signifying her treacherous journey and obstacles overcome. It also can be used to show the diversity of not just her, but of America, where everyone old, sick, poor, no matter of race suffering all together. Phoenix Jackson wrinkles on her face, described as a tree roots, where tree sported in the middle of her face. Then even goes as far as telling us that gold underlining around her wrinkles and forehead, a color commonly associated with phoenix colors (usually represented as gold and red). Which explains her red rag that she wears around her head. Like that of a phoenix, she herself is draped like one. From Phoenix’s scalp to her golden wrinkles.

Phoenix then encounters a receptionist at a pharmacy. At first, we see a solemn side of Phoenix. Phoenix does not reply to anything the receptionist says. Phoenix is then greeted by a nurse but, she does not say anything once again until, the nurse sparks Phoenix’s memory as to why she was there in the first place. The nurse reminds Phoenix of her grandson. That is when Phoenix’s normal personality comes back to the scene. Phoenix’s unconditional love for her grandson is then the emotion that we experience. She says things like, “… So the time come around, and I go on another trip for the soothing medicine.” (Page 10 Paragraph 1) and “I not going to forget him [her grandson] again, no, the whole enduring time. I could no tell him from all the other creatures in creation.” (Page 10 Paragraph 2) Phoenix explains to us how important her grandson is to her. She expressed her feelings toward her grandson through her words and actions.

In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” Phoenix Jackson demonstrates that people often overcome obstacles for loved ones. In her journey, Jackson faces physical, mental and social obstacles, but she overcome all of those obstacles and shows the reader of her perseverance. First of all, Jackson faces physical obstacles in her journey. She is a small, old African American women who does not have a proper dress for her journey. She dress up herself with a long apron and unlaced shoes.

Eudora Welty’s short story, A Worn Path, circles around a brave old lady named Phoenix. Published in 1940, this story highlights what may have been a struggle for a colored woman in this time. As Phoenix sets off for town she encounters different situations. Of course Phoenix’s journey is not easy, but Welty uses her and her journey to remind readers that no one is perfect, walk by faith, and have courage by all means.

This is a simple story about a difficult journey; the story is set in the rural South during the time period at the end of the Civil War, which was an early road that ran from Natchez, Mississippi known as the Old Natchez Trace. The main character, Phoenix Jackson, is an elderly black woman who lives in the country back off the Old Natchez Trace. She is walking to town along the path that she always takes. She travels to Natchez Trace twice a year, and on this particular cold December day, along the way, she encounters various obstacles: thorny bushes, a creek, a barbed-wire fence, a swamp, but these do not stop her from completing her mission. She encounters a dog and waves her cane to drive away a dog, loses her balance, and

In the short story, "A Worn Path" Eudora Welty's plot is not all that clear in the beginning, but progresses as her character carries on against the overwhelming forces against her. In this short story a black elderly woman, Phoenix Jackson, must overcome the odds against her as she valiantly travels through many obstacles in order to contribute to the wellness of her grandson, for whom she is making this trip down "a worn path." It is at this point that all of Welty's readers' hearts open up to this poor, elderly woman as she makes an attempt to carry on her love for her grandson by taking a long journey down a familiar path in order to get medication that seems to help ease his sickness pains. However, there are many forces against

In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, the narrator, who just goes by Mama, is telling the story of her two children. Mama is the patriarch of the Johnson family. In this story, she compares Maggie, the youngest and more naïve daughter, to Dee, the oldest and ‘smartest’ daughter, and reminisces on when Dee came home to visit (402-408). Walker brings about a story that is significant to African American heritage and how one should appreciate and have knowledge of it. This story, which takes places in the Deep South, has various symbols that represent aspects of the African-American culture and/or heritage and the mentality of the Johnson family.

Symbolism plays a large part in the telling of this story. Symbolism can be found in Phoenix Jackson’s name just as much as in the small toy she buys her grandson. The name Phoenix is referencing a mythical bird that is believed to live in the desert and is capable of living up to 600 years. The Phoenix is said to set itself on fire only to rise once again from its ashes. The symbol of the Phoenix expresses the endurance and resilience of Phoenix Jackson. As she makes her way down the path she is embodying the long lasting characteristic of the Phoenix. In addition, Jackson is constantly picking herself back up, and keeping herself together. Just like the mythical bird, Jackson manages to continue on the harsh and tortuous path, rising from her own ashes, all out of love for her grandson. While the symbol of the phoenix is obvious, one might skip over the message behind the small toy Jackson bought for her grandson. The pinwheel, or windmill as Jackson called it, is a circular collection of blades that are pushed and turned in a continuous circular pattern by either wind or force (Welty, 507). This symbol

“A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is the story of an elderly African-American woman named Phoenix Jackson. It takes place in Natchez, Mississippi, in December 1940. The story is about Phoenix’s difficult quest to get medication for her sick grandson. On her journey, she endures various hardships such as walking to the city on a cold December morning and being humiliated while on her journey. On this difficult journey, Phoenix encounters both impolite people and others who are willing to lend a hand. The main objective of the story is to take care of and respect the elderly and to bring attention to racism. Reading “A Worn Path” was a positive experience for me because Phoenix’s story was one of strength, determination, and compassion.

Next, in realistic writing, the characters are treated as more important than the plot. In this story, the entire focus is on Phoenix Jackson. She is old and we can see what kind of person she is by her actions. Meeting many obstacles through the woods, she never gives up and continues her journey to the town. She talks out loud to the woods and interacts with it as it is a person. The character reveals itself without much coming from the author.

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.

  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.