How Does Eudora Welty Use Symbols In A Worn Path

A Worn Path, is a short story about a little old lady who took this big adventure just to get some medicine for her sick grandson. The grandson was sick because he ended up swallowing lye two years ago. The short story really shows the extent a family member would go just to see you happy. The grandmother had started to have a short memory loss, even though she blamed it on her lack of education, it may have been because of her old age. Eudora Welty uses fluctuating tone, symbols, and settings in the short story.

Eudora Welty uses symbols in a worn path to Phoenix Jacksons outfit and her role in the short story. The first symbol used to describe phoenix Jackson was “Her skin had a pattern all of its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as through a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead… (22)”. That symbol indicates that Phoenix skin was so old and wrinkled, that it looks to have formed a tree shape in the center of her forehead. The other symbol used was “she carried a thin, small, cane made from an umbrella. (22)”. That quote lets you know that she was old, but also that she had little money because she made her cane out of an umbrella.

Another symbol used was the scare crow. Ms. Phoenix thought the scarecrow was a ghost. She states in the story “Who you be the ghost of? (22).” She was terrified at first of the scarecrow.

The tone of “A worn Path” constantly changes throughout the short story.

Ms. Phoenix at first constantly complained about the length of the trip and as to why her feet were hurting her. Ms. Phoenix stated in the story “seems like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far” (22). Ms. Phoenix seemed as if her body was really hurting, even by the way she walked. The tone changes a little during her encounter with the guy along the trip. Ms. Phoenix became determined to go to her destination even after the guy tells her to go home. Ms. Phoenix then states “I bound to go to town, mister” (22). She was determined to go get that medicine for her grandson. The tone changes from her complaining, to her being determined. She ended on a happy term, as she was” going to buy her grandson a paper windmill”

(22).

The setting of this short story is wonderful, because she traveled through the woods. Going to town was really big for Ms. Phoenix as she knew she had to dress a certain way. She states “right for out in the country” but not in the “big building” (goodman,2015). The setting also changes as Ms. Phoenix gets in a dancing mood. She tells the scarecrow to dance as she stated in the story ““while I dancing with you,” (goodman,2015). The setting in the short story changes quite often where it goes from old country town, to fancy downtown where people were all dressed up.

A worn path should teach an individual how to stay determined. A family love is something that will always be there, and you should do anything to make sure your family is together. Whether you have to walk a long journey, you should still stay determined. A worn path taught me that looks can be deceiving, because even though Ms. Phoenix was old she wasn’t scared of that rifle. I hope to one day be determined about something just how Ms. Phoenix was.