Symbolism in “a worn path”

747 Words2 Pages

Eudora Welty uses symbolism in a worn by using objects or people to symbolize objects and ideas, for example the main character in a worn path is named phoenix Jackson which symbolizes the Arabian mythological bird that lives a very long time and dies in a fire but comes back to life out of the ashes. A web site called 123 help me says that phoenix Jackson symbolizes a sign of strength because she stands her ground “as the hunter taunts her with his gun” this shows that she is stronger than the hunter thinks she is.
Another great example that a website named writing rock gave was that “ racism is still prevalent in the south at the time and it is clearly evident throughout the story” (writing rock) the white hunter mocks Phoenix by making it seem that he is superior by pointing a gun at her. This is an example of symbolism because the white hunter represents racism and how the blacks were treated at that time. Another character that has a symbolic meaning is phoenix’s grandson because “ when phoenix dies, her spirit of the phoenix will live on in her grandson who will most likely live a long, happy life. (123 help me) he will be the rebirth of the phoenix.
In the short story a worn path there is also objects that symbolize things like the many birds that phoenix saw through her journey. The editors of 123helpme say that ”the buzzards represent death, but the old woman made her way through… and left death”(123helpme). this represents how death is near for phoenix and how this was a very dangerous path for this old woman and how she overcame this great journey that not even nature that she would and despite the odds against her. Another bird that she encountered was the black crow that the website 123helpme says that they also r...

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...e 1940’s. she overcame many great obstacles that most elderly women of her background wouldn’t be able to do because she a strong black independent woman she had to be strong for herself and her little grandchild who she loved very much and he was very vulnerable because he had swallowed lye which is a very toxic poison which burned his throat and left him scared for life that is the reason she makes that great path every time he needs his medication.

Works Cited

123helpme Editor. “Symbolize in ‘A Won Path’.” 123helpme.N.p., h.d.web.17 Mar 2014.
Beller, Michele. “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty:Symbols and Themes.Yahoo! voice.Yahooinc, 29th Nov. 2008.Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
Noelle M. “Symbolism in Eudora Welty’s “S Worn Path.” StudymodeN.p., Oct 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
Writing Rock, Editor.“’A Worn Path’ Analysis Research Paper.”Writing Rock.N.p., n.d.web. 17 Mar 2014.

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