Life Struggles of Phoenix in Eudora Weltys A Worn Path...

Life Struggles of Phoenix in Eudora Weltys A Worn Path A Worn Path, by Eudora Welty is a heartbreaking story about the heroic trip of an old African American woman, Phoenix. The readers wont find out right away the plot of the story or why Phoenix wont 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 titles message. Her trip is full of obstacles, from bushes of thorns that get caught in her dress, to her crossing of a creek. These elements complicate the conflict and increase the readers curiosity†¦show more content†¦Have those years taken a toll on her overall health? Is it really worth taking the trip down the worn path? Even she admits, something takes a hold of me on this hill-pleads I should stay (Welty, 151). The young man, the scarecrow, the wild animals, even the mourning dove seem to also try to discourage her from continuing the trip. As the readers follow Phoenix along the worn path, their respect for her character grows, as they witness the difficulties she encounters along the way. She sometimes talks out loud to objects, visions, or the wild life, which indicates that she is used to being alone most of the time. Although afraid of the wild animals, she continues her trip through the deep woods, up hill through pines, and down hill through oaks. Here, walking through the evergreen pine woods symbolizes her lost youth (when shes climbing up hill, she feels like shes wearing chains around her ankle), while walking through the oaks trees symbolizes the close ending of her life. As mentioned above, while walking up hill, Phoenix feels imaginary chains around her legs-one of the hidden clues about Phoenix social status and financial situation. They can also indicate that she is getting close to the end of her own worn path, her life. The readers get a better understanding about her social status, when she meets a young man. Although he seems to be nice, he will point a gun towards Phoenix, trying toShow MoreRelatedSymbolic Source In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty1287 Words   |  6 Pagescatching fire; their symbol is a mocking bird with an arrow on it. A Worn Path is about a long walk through the woods an old lady named Phoenix Jackson has to go through every time her grandson runs out of medicine. A long time ago her grandson swallowed lye that ruined his throat, the medicine is the only thing that relives the pain to his grandson. Throughout the woods to Natchez town Phoenix goes through so many things. Phoenix would go through the woods every time his grandson would finish hisRead MoreLiterary Analysis: A Worn Path Essay1635 Words   |  7 PagesIn â€Å"A Worn Path† colors are used to emphasize the depth and breadth of the story, and to reinforce the parallel images of the mythical phoenix and the protagonist Phoenix Jackson. Eudora Welty’s story is rich with references to colors that are both illustrative and perceptive, drawing us in to investigate an additional historical facet of the story. The surface story is a poor black grandma’s journey with an errand; to get medicine for her grandchild burned by lye. The colors used apprise theRead MoreA Worn Path: Struggle For Racial Equality Essay1522 Words   |  7 PagesA Worn Path: Struggle for Racial Equality 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 haveRead MoreA Worn Path: Struggle for Racial Equality1550 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A Worn Path†: Struggle for Racial Equality In â€Å"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 â€Å"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 haveRead MoreDecoding The Symbolism Used in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty1276 Words   |  6 PagesToday we will be talking about the different literary references used throughout Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path†. I will explain and decode different techniques used by the author throughout her story. The story is of an old southern African American woman, named Phoenix Jackson, making her way into to town to pick up her grandsons medication from the doctor’s office. But this is no no rmal old woman. She cannot see and is picking her way with a cane to make her way across a barrage of obstaclesRead MoreA Worn Path Research Paper959 Words   |  4 PagesHeroic Efforts Of Phoenix Jackson In â€Å"A Worn Path† In Eudora Welty’s â€Å"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 asRead MoreEudora Welty s `` A Worn Path ``2399 Words   |  10 PagesEudora Welty was a renowned American author who used literary themes and devices to describe the complexities of the human mind and soul. Through her short stories, Welty paints a vivid portrait based on morals, hardships, and human relationships. In her stores, Welty combines this with humor and psychological acuity to allow the audience a glimpse into the lives of her characters and to learn something of themselves in the process. Two of her most famous short works are â€Å"Death of a Traveling Salesman†Read More The Hero Sojourner In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty Essay883 Words   |  4 PagesThe Hero Sojourner in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty In A Worn Path by: Eudora Welty, the main character emulates the necessary nuts and bolts of the archetypal journey as its hero; answers a call to an adventure, has to go through trials of fear, and ending with the retrieval of two prizes. Eudora Weltys short story A Worn Path takes place on a bright, frozen day in December. Representing a struggle, but most of all represents determination. Her name is Phoenix Jackson. This story is about sacrificeRead MoreEudora Welty s A Worn Path956 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction James Saunders wrote an interesting article â€Å"’A Worn Path’ The Eternal Quest of Welty’s Phoenix Jackson† (The Southern Literary Journal 25.1, Fall 1992: p62-73.) that not only analyzed Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path† (The Collected Works of Eudora Welty) from his perspective but also included the perspectives of other authors which makes his article an excellent source for interpretations of ‘A Worn Path’. Summary Saunders article summarizes Phoenix Jackson as a symbol of the Christian religion andRead MoreEudora Welty s A Worn Path1481 Words   |  6 PagesA very famous writer and novelist, Eudora Welty, has written many short stories and novels. Welty’s work is mainly focused with great precision on the regional manners of people inhabiting a small Mississippi town that resembles her own birthplace and the Delta country. Welty was born on April 13, 1909 and was raised by her close-knit and loving parents. In fact, Welty inherited the love of language from her mother. During her lifetime, Welty has earned many awards from her short stories and novel