Phoenix Jackson Thesis

In “A Worn Path”, Phoenix Jackson’s name symbolizes the mythological bird “Phoenix.” In mythology, the story of the Phoenix is about a large, magical bird that lived for centuries, created a fire for itself, and rose up out of the ashes renewed again. The bird’s color is described as shimmering red and golden/yellow. Eudora describes Phoenix’s skin as “a golden color” and her cheeks “illuminated by a yellow burning in the dark,” and the red bandana she wears around her head also symbolises the colors of the bird. The idea of Phoenix persevering, like the bird, despite what many would see as insurmountable odds is best seen through her meeting with the hunter. Even when the hunter points out how far the journey is to town for Phoenix, she simply answers, “I bound to go to town, mister. The time come around.” She answers without hesitation, showing that the idea of giving up never entered her mind. It is this resilience in the face of adversity that further ties Phoenix to her namesake.

In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” the character Phoenix Jackson is introduced. Phoenix Jackson is an uneducated, African-American woman without any family besides her sick grandson. Phoenix is the hero of this story and fits the role well by delivering much-needed medicine to her grandson. Phoenix shows many distinct traits that reveal her to be a hero to her grandson. The heroic feats she accomplishes pave a path that leads to her satisfaction as well as protection of her most beloved asset, her grandson. Throughout the story, Phoenix’s humble, caring, and determined character is displayed through her actions.

While reading the story it appeared that Phoenix does not have a Grandson, or at least he was not alive anymore. She told the Doctor that her Grandson had a sore throat for a long time. When the doctors asked how

Phoenix Jackson and The Young Man embarked on their journeys for different reasons. Phoenix’s journey was a necessary journey; her grandson needed the medicine in order to be healthy. She took the journey because of her sense of responsibility and love for her grandson. Like any grandmother,

“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.

In addition to her physical deterioration, Phoenix Jackson is struggling with senility and mental fatigue. The round character is fatigued by life. The protagonist is consumed with grief regarding her economic hardship, grandson’s failing health and the blatant racism. All of these social factors are eroding her mind. Jackson has lost her perception and memory. She is easily fooled and mistaken. For example, in the woods, the elderly woman approaches an ominous figure that she is unable to identify. As she continues to approach the unknown object, she realizes that she encountered a scarecrow. Upon this realization, the aged woman acknowledges her decreasing mental capabilities. “My senses is gone. I too old, I the oldest people I ever know” (117). Phoenix Jackson, in Welty’s “A Worn Path” must battle the physical and mental challenges as she travels to Natchez to obtain medicine for her beloved grandson.

Marnie Foster, a teenage girl, was found dead inside a sleeping bag, next to a replica doll. Her piano teacher confessed to murdering her because she wanted to be as perfect Marnie. Detectives began to look for other possible victims of the piano teacher, June Frye, but nothing added up. So who killed this perfect little girl? As I was watching yet another episode of “Law and Order” I was sure it wasn’t June Frye who killed her. I watched how eloquently the psychiatrist, Dr. Jackson, spoke to June, convincing her to explain her depraved childhood. June began to confide in Dr. Jackson, telling him that she wanted to be like Marnie, and that the doll that her father gave her was a totem to the murderer’s loss of innocence. I watched how Dr. Jackson empathized with June, explaining the loss of his daughter. I was only 12 when I watched the episode but I realized that I want to do what Dr. Jackson does. Since then I became fascinated with all things

In 1941 Eudora Welty put pen to paper and created a short story titled “The Worn Path”. At this point in history African Americans had been free from slavery, but they still lived their lives around incredible hardship and racism. Welty portrays a character by the name of Pheonix Jackson, beneath her old eyes and wrinkled skin is a woman that is irrepressible, humble, and confident. Pheonix begins her journey from her home in the woods to town, her final destination will be getting back home to her sick grandchild with the medicine he needs. Almost all odds are against Jackson, being a black woman is hard enough, but an old lady walking so far from home leaves her vulnerable to the elements of nature and the evil in another’s heart.

Thesis statement: In “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson displays extraordinary perseverance in the face of difficulty, which ultimately allows her to accomplish her goal.

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 "A Worn Path", a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a "worn path" through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics have speculated that this short story represents the love a grandmother shows for her grandson. Others say this story represents life and death, where Phoenix represents an immortal figure. Dennis J. Sykes disagrees with the other critics by saying,

At the beginning Eudora Welty explains that in the story “A Worn Path” her character, Phoenix Jackson, goes on a long journey on foot while also being very old. There are clues that she has been on this journey several times and the purpose of it is to get medicine for her sick grandson. We are never sure of the condition of the grandson nor do we see him as a character in the story. In this story the path she takes what seems like more than a mile walk, but she still pushes through all of the hardships that she comes across.

Eudora Welty is the author of the short story; she is from Jackson, Mississippi. Welty created characters that are often secluded and complicated. A Worn Path was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1940.The short story A Worn Path is about an elderly black woman named Phoenix Jackson who walks from her home to the city of Natchez to get medicine for her sick grandson. Phoenix describes the scenery as alternately beautiful. The story has a lot of different literary elements such as genre, main characters, minor characters, setting, style and theme. More importantly, the themes of this short story is love, perseverance, racial prejudice, and redemption.

Phoenix Jackson is an old woman with wrinkles all over her body . Phoenix also seems fragile but strong minded and kind hearted . Her intentions are good why because she wants the medicine to make her grandson feel better . Phoenix might not be rich but has enough or barely enough to get her through her worn journey . Phoenix isn’t just doing this to make him feel better she is doing this from the kindness of her heart too see her grandson rejoiced and feeling better .

“A Worn Path”, written by Eudora Welty, is a short story about an old woman named Phoenix Jackson. Phoenix Jackson is making a long journey to the city of Natchez to get medicine for her grandson. While traveling to Natchez, Phoenix encounters many difficulties. Through these trials, she demonstrates her determination, persistence, and her love for her grandson.