Phoenix Jackson In A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

Phoenix Jackson, in “A Worn Path”, written by Eudora Welty, is an old negro woman living in poverty. She lives a lonesome life with her ill grandson, fighting to keep him by her side. Ever-so-often Phoenix journeys out on an life or death path in order to obtain medicine for her grandson who has swallowed lye, which causes his throat to close up and prevents him swallowing anything. Although, as easy as it may sound to simply receive the medicine and return to her grandson, we must keep in mind that she has aged quite a bit and also that there are many occurrences in which impede Phoenix’s journey. Eudora Welty, in “A Worn Path” establishes characters such as The hunter, The nurse and Mother Nature, in order to interfere with Phoenix Jackson’s

journey for medicine all out of love.
The hunter in the story seemed to look like the only one who was trying to prevent Phoenix from heading to town. Although, he is not the only one but, he did have a crucial impact on Phoenix’s journey. According to Dennis Sykes, on his criticism of “A Worn Path” states that “The hunter’s attempt to instill fear in Phoenix, a fear she disposed of years ago as she came to terms with her plight in society, fails.”(Sykes) Throughout Phoenix’s interaction with the hunter, he made ludicrous remarks and did frivolous actions in order to blockade Phoenix’s journey from continuing. When Phoenix first encounters the dogs fighting the hunter comes and breaks it up and then heads over to Phoenix and laughs then lifts his gun and points it at Phoenix. What the hunter might’ve been trying to do was allow fear into the old woman's mind and would cause her to more than likely go run off back home, against her will. Nevertheless, Phoenix does not feel no fear for she is wise and her mind has one ultimate goal in which not one thing can stop her from completing. The hunter then lets Phoenix go fourth on her journey for he has lost faith in trying to attempt to save this little ole womans life. He then parts ways with Phoenix stating “you must be a hundred years old, and scared of nothing. I’d give you a dime if I had any money with me. But you take my advice and stay home, and nothing will happen to you.” (Welty 58) Phoenix takes his words and disregards them seeing how she will not let such things as even losing her life come between her and her grandson’s life.
Many might assume that the nurse did not attempt to impede Phoenix, seeing how at that point she has already reached her destination.

The nurse had plenty sympathy for Phoenix seeing as how she did truly care for her grandson. The nurse realizes this when she says “She doesn’t come for herself--she has a little grandson. She makes these trips just as regular as clockwork…”(Welty 77) Although, the nurse does not necessarily agree much about what the hospital had been doing for her. She had been constantly doubting her reasons for coming on such a long trip to recieve medicine for someone who will not be cured. You can clearly notice doubt in the tone of the nurse when she says “The doctor said as long as you came to get it, you could have it, but it’s an obstinate case.”(Welty 92) The last line clearly tells us that the nurse would certainly refute on the prevention of letting Phoenix receive all the medicine which in the nurse’s perspective may seem like a waste, but in Phoenix’s perspective it is a task of love and admirability of her grandson. Phoenix does not let this slide by this time as it did with the hunter. She contradicts the nurse and simply entails that her grandson and her were the only ones left in the world and that she will not forget why she does what she does for

him.
Nature often times became an huge issue for Ms.Phoenix Jackson.

Nature was actually the first interaction Phoenix had encountered during her journey. Near the beginning we see Phoenix say “Out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals!... Don’t let none of those come running my direction. I got a long way.” (Welty 3) This statement shows us how determined Phoenix strived for her goal, at the absolute point where she step foot outside. Phoenix tells mother nature straightforward not to interfere with her voyage, but as we know that's not something that can be controlled. Phoenix is about 100 years old according to the hunter, which means at around that age their muscles start to become more fragile and won't function well in the cold and at the time Phoenix heads out she is passing through extreme cold weather conditions. According to Dan Donlan, on his criticism on this story, ““A Worn Path” : Immortality of Stereotype”, he states “Old Phoenix is surrounded by death. The season is winter. The earth is frozen. The woods are still, and the dove mourns.” (Donlan) Donlan’s statement specifies that Phoenix’s journey is a more excruciating pathway then you may think, temperatures hitting below zero, animals who may find Phoenix prey,

etc.
Therefore, the hunter, the nurse and Mother Nature, are created in order to interfere with Phoenix Jackson’s journey for medicine all out of love. Without, conflict Welty felt that not much meaning would be shown in an old woman walking out in the cold just to obtain some medicine for her ill grandson. There was a deeper meaning that we all had to get from this story about Phoenix. Phoenix loved her grandson, which was why she put up with all the conflict that arises. All she had left was her grandson and she was not going to lose him too those who don't understand what the meaning of love is. Welty carefully introduced these characters to in a way that the reader would simply be entertained rather than seeing that they were there to project how meaningful Phoenix’s journey is. So, Phoenix stays strong through her encounters, because her heart walks for her no matter her age, place, time, who or what she encounters all in the name of love.