Eudora Welty a Worn Path

Thesis: Eudora Welty paints the picture of a life journey in the short story “A Worn Path” through the use of symbolism, imagery, and tone.

1. The theme of the story is: Racism is an issue that never seems to disappear no matter how much people say it does.

When she arrives at the doctors’ office she is greeted first by a grumpy front desk receptionist, then a nice nurse who is familiar when Phoenix approaches her. The nice nurse assures the front desk receptionist that Phoenix is there to pick up her grandsons medication. As she and the nurse chat, Phoenix’s old age starts to play a factor when she loses her train of thought while the nurse asks on the condition of the grandson.

In this short story “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, I will be analyzing symbolism. In the story “A Worn Path” the author uses symbolism to create a figurative explanation of the occurrences in her journey. This story has distinct symbols from myths, historical, and biblical events. The character Phoenix Jackson has various trials to go through on her way to town to get more medicine for her ill grandson.

On an everyday basis people are encountering challenges that stand in their way of them achieving their set goals. However, with determination the vast majority will accomplish the mission they have set out to conquer. In the short story “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty in 1940, Phoenix Jackson, the main character has a mission in which she is trying to complete when she is faced with many challenges. This short story is centered on the challenges that are faced by an elderly African-American grandmother as she continues on her long journey from the secluded pinewoods into the town nearby of Natchez. She has one intention in mind when she begins, to get a medicine for her chronically ill grandson no matter what the challenges are that she encounters. The one way to convey this idea to the readers is with the literary use of theme. Some of the major themes in Eudora Welty’s short story is the determination that Jackson conveys with her actions, the aspect of agism, and racism. The most important theme in this story is the emotional and spiritual strength of Jackson which enables her to continue her journey.

The lives of Dana and Phoenix would be considered troubled, but that does not stop them from doing what it needed to be done. These women are very driven and independent; they will not let anything get into the their way of what is needed to be done. In “A Worn Path,” Phoenix is faced with obstacles of being a woman. She is old and weaker and must travel the worn path that would be easier for a man to do, but because she is head strong she can do anything she wants to do. Phoenix can travel the worn

When she finds herself snagged on a thorn bush, she talks to it as she patiently frees herself. "Thorns, you doing your appointed work Never want to let folks pass-no sir (159)." As Phoenix wobbles along, she comes across a sitting buzzard and in three simple words she lets him know that he will not dine upon her. "Who you watching (160)?" She slowly sways past him and continues her journey, while nature carefully plans the next obstacle. Sure enough, as Phoenix stands and ponders, a big black dog creeps up behind her. "Old woman," she said to herself, "that black dog come up out of the weeds to stall you off (161)." She accepts the fact that the black dog is merely following nature's orders. Phoenix's old body is not as quick as her wit. When Phoenix is startled by the huge mutt, her mind reacts much faster than her body, causing her to drop into a weed-cushioned trench. The old woman is discovered by a young hunter who quickly snatches her out of the ditch. As they converse, Phoenix catches a glimpse of a shiny nickel that drops out of the hunter's pouch. Her mind reacts; her face lights up and she claps her hands. "Look at that dog! She laughed as if in admiration. He ain't scared of nobody. He a big black dog (161)." Knowing that her old body needs plenty of time to grab the nickel, she uses her wit to shift the hunter's attention toward the "fearless"

  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.

“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.

What risks would you take in order to help a sick loved one? In “A Worn Path” a very old colored woman takes a very long and risky, but familiar trip despite her age and the obstacles that she might face. Written in 1940 by Eudora Welty, a time where people of color weren’t seen equal, “A Worn Path” displays the characteristics of a realistic short story.

As a child Eudora already begun to work as an author, however, her heart was set on becoming a painter. She attended Davis Elementary school (Marrs) and in 1925, graduated from Jackson’s Central High School (Magil 3282). While school was out, Welty visited their local library, Andrew Carnegie Library, where she was only aloud to read a total of two books at a time; she then dubbed this as “a sweet Devouring.” During her college years, Eudora attended Mississippi State College for a total of two years and later transferred to the University of Wisconsin. There she decided to put all her efforts into becoming an author. She then graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the arts (Magil 3282). While her mind was set to become an author her father

She is not taking this trip for herself, but for her grandson, who may already be dead. This observation, plus the fact that she is an old black woman and doesn’t get treated too kindly for it proves that she is willing to go through anything for her grandson. The many trials she faces (the snake, the dog, the hunter) and the way she reacts to them show that she has done this many times, and has courage that branches out from her grandson’s needs. “The empowerment of love in this situation enables Phoenix to put aside her fatigued mentality and to continue with her expedition. This story enables the reader to believe that no matter what happens, Phoenix will hold her principle to make her journey.

In the short story, Phoenix, an old Negro woman almost in her late years, takes her last journey through the woods like she had done for the past years, since her grandson got really sick by swallowing lye. In this journey Phoenix phases difficulties. Her old age made her hallucinate about her getting a marble cake given by a young child. Her difficulties to walk and her poor eye sight made her striped dress get stuck in the branches. Even though she went through all of these obstacles she was determined to go get her grandson’s medicine. Once she got closer to her destination she came across this White Hunter, who points his gun at her. Phoenix gets scared because she thought he saw her get a nickel which had fallen out his pocket, while she distracted him. Then she continued her journey until she saw her destination. When she got there she asked a white lady that was carrying gifts, to tie her shoe laces because she was entering this big building. Once she tied her shoe laces Phoenix continued, until she

In the short story, “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, the story's protagonist Phoenix Jackson travels from her home through the forest, to town where she goes to retrieve a remedy for her grandson's throat. Phoenix Jackson is an elderly black woman on a difficult, dangerous journey through the cold winter to reach the city. To maintain her balance through this journey and to ward off wild animals slinking through the woods, Phoenix walks with a thin cane made from an umbrella. She has made this trip many times before, however, this time around is much more difficult due to her aging body and fragile bones.

Phoenix Jackson in Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" has been compared to the mythological phoenix because of her birdlike qualities, and it's also been noticed that Phoenix possesses many of the same characteristics as Christ. But, what hasn't been addressed is the fact that Eudora Welty didn't just leave the symbolism to Christ alone. Welty also included many biblical allusions as well. Phoenix Jackson is not only symbolic of the mythological bird that rose from the ashes of its own demise or simply a Christ figure comparable to the Son of God, but she is also a biblical hero facing temptation and trials along her journey and succeeds unharmed and steadfast in her faith.