Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

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Recommended: Use of symbolism in "A Worn Path.

In “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson is the protagonist She is a stereotypical old, small, and weak black women living in the South. Her path to town profoundly resembles her journey in life. For Phoenix Jackson, life is laborious in many ways. It seems as if life is counteracting her every move. Through every struggle in her life, Phoenix Jackson only rises and becomes more determined. She does not give in to how society thinks blacks should act in the South. Phoenix’s takes life one step at time allowing both success and failure. Phoenix Jackson is the major character in this story. She has to overcome many difficulties and obstacles during her journey to town, but she is a woman who knows what she wants. Although, …show more content…

As she slowly ascends the hill, Phoenix feels as if chains have been forced around her ankles. These chains resemble the chains of slavery and the troublesome battles that african americans must face. Phoenix’s next difficulty is climbing over a barbed wire fence. Phoenix carefully and calmly climbs over the fence. This is a struggle for her because she is not only old but also weak and fragile. Phoenix’s character is again put to test by a bush catching on her dress. She knows that she must continue on her journey, but she also knows she needs to be extremely careful pulling her dress free. Phoenix’s uses her calm, patient hands to break her dress free from the grasp the bush has. Her next obstacle is being stopped by a dog. The dog barks and howls at her as she cleverly tries to avoid it. The dog knocks her off balance and she falls into a ditch. A young, white hunter comes upon her struggling to climb out from the ditch. He helps her out and harshly asks her what she is up to. Phoenix replies that she must get to town and be on her way. This shows the determination Phoenix has. Phoenix’s finally obstacle is coming upon a corn maze. Still has determined before she walks confidently into the field of scattered

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