Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

The main persona in Eudora Welty’s short story, “A Worn Path” is an “old Negro woman” (670), by the name of Phoenix Jackson. The story takes place on a path through the woods which leads to the desired town. In addition, Phoenix Jackson understands her old age, but she is ready to challenge herself on another journey. Like old Phoenix Jackson, the main persona in Alfred L. Tennyson’s poem, “Ulysses” is also old. Tennyson’s poem proclaims the life of a King, who refuses rest. Ulysses lived a rather important and powerful life. Overall, the aged personas in the short story “A Worn Path” and the poem “Ulysses” demonstrate the theme of unbroken adventure through similes and symbols.

Eudora Welty uses several similes to describe the obstacles of Phoenix Jackson’s journey to town. Her journey consists of crossing fields and going up and down several hills. Welty writes, “There she had to creep and crawl and, spreading her knees and stretching her fingers, like a baby trying to climb the steps” (649). Comparing Jackson’s movements to an infant suggests that she cannot move as quick as she used

However, age is but a number to them. Both texts describe a type of journey. A journey in which the personas are searching for something. Ulysses is longing for new adventures: “To strive, to seek, and not to yield” (71). He wants to venture until death. Moreover, Phoenix Jackson’s old age made her forget why she went to town but remembered it was for her sick grandson. Jackson states, “So, the time come around, and I go on another trip for soothing medicine” (653). Her adventures to town are endless. Ultimately, the aged personas demonstrate the theme of unbroken adventure through similes and symbols. Although both of the main personas in Eudora Welty’s story “A Worn Path” and Alfred L. Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses” are old, they are full of life and will continue making