An Army of Symbolism in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty

908 Words2 Pages

In the short story of “A Worn Path “symbolism is used in a manifold of ways to described the many things that are encountered along the way. The journey through the worn path is a symbolism of the path of life. Also the obstacles that she faces along the way are equivalent to the trials of life. For example, Lady Gaga’s hit single “Born this Way” tells a story of a “new race” being created within humanity. Not making the race yourself, but slowly developing within everyone around. It’s also in the good and bad that goes around the world. For instance, the concept of yin-yang is symbolized as the good and the bad in things, describing the opposite forces within those two objects. Such as, light and dark, life and death, male and female, and so on.

The story is set in the Natchez trace in the southwestern state of Mississippi. The trace is an old highway that runs from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi. The story begins in the woods and eventually leads to the city of Natchez. This took place in December, during Christmas in the 1940s.

In the story Phoenix Jackson is a little old blind lady going on a little journey on the cold winter days to town to get medicines for her grandson who she dearly cares for so much. On her journey she goes through many obstacles and faces many dangers, but the love for her grandson keeps her strong and together. A while back, her grandson swallowed lye which know made him very sick and needs medicine to take away the pain. In the article “Symbolism in ‘A Worn Path’ “Jackson has to head out into town “to
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obtain the medicine for her grandson.” She starts her journey one cold morning through the path she knows very well. She wore a striped dress that went all the way down to the...

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... to her grandson.

Continue achieving your destinations, don’t give up. People have it worst than you, like phoenix she was blind and defenseless, but continued her destination to get her grandson medicine.

Works Cited

Beller, Michele. “‘A Worn Path’ by Eudora Welty: Symbols and Themes.” Yahoo! Voices. Yahoo Inc., 29th Nov 2008. Web. 17 Mar 2014

Cummings, Michael J. “‘A Worn Path’ Study guide.” Cummingsstudyguides.N.p., 2011. Web.17 Mar 2014.

Garcia, Abu. “Symbolism in ‘A Worn Path’ by Eudora Welty.” Scribd.Np., n.d. Web. 17 Mar 2014

Roberts, Edgar V. and Henry E. Jacobs, ed. “‘A Worn Path’ Analysis.” Yahoo Contributor Network. Yahoo, Inc., 6 Nov 2008. Web .17 2014

Schnalia. “Symbolism in ‘A Worn Path’.” College Essays Help and Ideas.N.p., 5 Mar 2012. Web.17 Mar 2014.

123helpme Editors. “Symbolism in ‘A Worn path’.” 123helpme.N.p., n.d. web. 17 Mar 2014

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