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A worn path
The theme of a worn path
Explain the title a worn path
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The Rebirth of a Woman
The Comparison of the Phoenix The Greek mythological story of the Phoenix is one that is greatly known throughout history. The story is about a bird that gets very old, cannot fly, and on its death bed. At its final moment of death, it bursts into flames, then is reborn from its ashes. (Broek) The Phoenix’s rebirth from its own ashes caused it to become a symbol of immortality. The story of the Phoenix is often associated with survival, strength, and glory. In the story A Worn Path, by Eudora Welty, the main character’s name is Phoenix Jackson. There are many connections Welty could’ve made between Phoenix in A Worn Path and the Phoenix in Greek mythology, including a connection to the Civil War and black rights, the
Because the Phoenix bird is a symbol of rebirth, this was a great reason to name the main character of this story accordingly. (Orr) Welty could’ve possibly chosen the name Phoenix for her main character because Phoenix’s life was one of both great struggle and rejoice. The time during the Civil War and after was a time of confusion and poor treatment for African Americans. In A Worn Path, Phoenix is still treated with prejudice, because of her race, gender, and age. Although she was treated with disrespect, her name held up to its standards, because she didn’t let anyone get in the way of her mission for her
Phoenix Jackson used her strength throughout the story to show the readers that no matter the circumstances, you can always do something for someone else, something to help. A Phoenix’s job is to protect, which is exactly what Phoenix did in A Worn Path. (Saunders) Each day, she protected her grandson by getting him the medicine he needed, and keeping him as healthy as she could. She gave her grandson hope, as well as the other African Americans who were discouraged. She showed her strength not only physically, but also mentally, in the fight against her age, and the fight that she had to go through while being treated less than she should have, because of her age, gender and race. Phoenix Jackson’s strength was a perfect portrayal of what the Phoenix bird
Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path' is a story that emphasizes the natural symbolism of the surroundings. As the story begins, we are introduced to our main character, Phoenix Jackson; she is described as a small, old Negro woman. I believe that the name Eudora Welty gives our main character is very symbolic. The legend of the Phoenix is about a fabled sacred bird of ancient Egyptians. The bird is said to come out of Arabia every 500 years to Heliopolis, where it burned itself on the altar and rose again from its ashes, young and beautiful. Phoenix, the women in the story, represents the myth of the bird because she is described as being elderly and near the end of her life. Phoenix can hardly walk and uses a cane made of an old umbrella to aid her. Her skin is described as old and wrinkly, but yet with a golden color running beneath it 'Her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead, but a golden color ran underneath?(55). Her skin tone represents the golden feathers of the Phoenix and her grandson represents the next Phoenix that will be given life when she dies. The trip to the city to get the medicine represents the mythological trip that the Phoenix takes to the sun to die. Most likely this journey along a worn path through the woods, will be one of her last.
The protagonist of this short story is Phoenix Jackson. She is portrayed as a lively person because of the vivid color descriptions given by the author. Her complexion is described to have yellow, golden and copper colors. This colors state she is a black woman. The author uses imagery to shows us that Phoenix is
Phoenix Jackson in Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" has been compared to the mythological phoenix because of her birdlike qualities, and it's also been noticed that Phoenix possesses many of the same characteristics as Christ. But, what hasn't been addressed is the fact that Eudora Welty didn't just leave the symbolism to Christ alone. Welty also included many biblical allusions as well. Phoenix Jackson is not only symbolic of the mythological bird that rose from the ashes of its own demise or simply a Christ figure comparable to the Son of God, but she is also a biblical hero facing temptation and trials along her journey and succeeds unharmed and steadfast in her faith.
The first way Phoenix is an archetypal hero is because she is full of mysterious and obscure origin. Some ways she is full of mysterious and obscure origin is that it is not clear where she comes from or who her parents are. A second way is that she was a slave. And Finally she has been through hard times and still works through it. In the story when Phoenix is on her
Granny was much like Phoenix Jackson, they both had to overcome obstacles or challenges in life that made them stronger. Granny had to deal with the heartache and pain of being deceived and disappointed by what she thought was love and Phoenix had to overcome the obstacles of traveling a difficult Journey because of the love she had for her grandson. Fate can control humans’ lives and can help humans reach the end of the challenging path. Phoenix’s and Granny Weatherall’s ability to withstand and overcome these challenges shows their strong determination, and the will power to endure hardship and continue to be strong.
Phoenix Jackson had a vivid description painted for herself by the author. Phoenix was a small and frail elderly Negro woman. She wore a red rag tied upon her head holding up her yet black, curly hair that fell into ringlets. Upon her, she wore a long and dark striped dress with an equally long apron over the top of it. Upon her feet were untied tennis shoes. She always carried her thin and small cane with her, which was actually an umbrella. Her old eyes were blue with age, and her skin had become a pattern of numberless branching wrinkles. By being able to create a vivid picture of Phoenix, the author has allowed a connection between her character and the reader where the reader can now comprehend Pho...
The name “black bird” is not a random happening, but carries its own meaning within the novel. The narrator calls the rare Maltese Falcon the Black Bird because it symbolizes Brigid’s façade built on lies and deception. Similar to the Maltese Falcon, which has a black coat covering the diamonds, Brigid selfish personality is hidden through her lies: Brigid “lied to [Spade] about [her] sister and all” in order to hide her true intentions of stealing the Black Bird. She utilizes her cunning mouth to hide everything true about herself: “You don’t think I had ...
There are various examples that shows how brave, unselfish, and senile Phoenix Jackson was throughout the story. From morning into the evening, she traveled to town for her grandson. She overcame every obstacle and made it to her destination after a tedious trip. She was a courageous, selfless, and witty old
Maya Angelou's writing career began during the late 1950's, around the same period when the Civil Rights Movement began to take place. Maya's known for one f her most famous poems, I Know Why The Cage Birds Sing. This poem is basically talking about how the birds in the cage are the African Americans/Blacks, where they have no freedom. "The free bird leaps on the back of the wind/and floats downstream till the current ends/And dips his wings in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky."(Angelou, 1-3) In the beginning , of this poem Maya Angelou is using the free bird to refer to the white people because they have all the rights and the blacks are stuck in "the cage" with no rights or freedom. Also, she could have a more positive aspect meaning that the free bird is the Black American dream coming to reality. After, being in ...
The third person narrator is not omniscient and does not provide the thoughts of Phoenix or any other characters. The audience is only aware of other the characters that phoenix introduced to us and are only aware of conversations if phoenix engages them herself. However, the narrator is also objective in this story. When Phoenix states, "God watching me the whole time. I come to stealing," (Welty, 2013) the reader can only conclude that she feels guilty about taking the nickel that the hunter dropped accidentally. If it wasn’t for her out loud commentary, the reader would have never known her feelings about this situation. Through the limited and objective narrator, we are forced to infer many details about Phoenix 's personality and character. This approach also lets Phoenix 's actions speak for the narrator, allowing for more indirect characterization as well as more focus on the action of traveling the worn path rather than focusing on the internal
Although I feel as though there are many literary elements throughout this short story such as characterization and theme, I also feel as though symbolism is very important as well. First of all, I believe that the name Phoenix in itself is symbolic for the type of person the old woman truly is. A Phoenix is a mythological creature who dies in fire and rises from ashes only to be stronger. It is as though all of these hardships only make the old woman more determined to complete her journey successfully.
Maya Angelou celebrates the strength of a young Black woman using imagery, characterization, and symbolism to share her highly personal experiences. Marguerite faces hardships like refusal for service because of her race, a longing for parental affection, and even sexual abuse and rape. Maya ultimately overcomes the oppression given to her race and to her femininity. Once believing she was and ugly caged, she is now the beautiful and free bird clothed with strength.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou's novel is a classic tale of growing up black in the American South in the 1930s and 40s. Even though Marguerite's and her brother Bailey's childhood and early youth are probably far from typical for the average black family of that time, the book nonetheless can be read as a parable of what it meant and still means to be a black person in an overwhelmingly white society. The story is told from a "black" point of view and is thus a more "politically correct" representation of race relationship and prejudice than Harper Lee's equally famous To Kill a Mockingbird.
Also, it describes how the white race is dominant, and there is prejudice towards people of color. The second stanza expresses how the caged bird, or African Americans are treated in today’s terms, as well as in the past. They face anger, fear, and frustration, all because of their skin color. Although the bird is tied down, it tries to stand up for well-deserved freedom. Angelou used a certain choice of words, diction, which allows her readers to comprehend what she is saying, however, she said it without being direct. Angelou wants everyone to grasp the concept that blacks and whites are far from different. The only characteristic that singles people out, is the skin color, and nobody should have their rights restricted because of their appearance. She portrayed throughout her poem that it would suck to be caged; just like the bird with clipped wings, with no
"Wright, you cannot be serious about this. I have never considering you having these types of feelings for me. I do hope this isn't some sort of trick Larry put you up to." He eyed Phoenix questionably, watching intently for any sign of this being an act. It was possible he was imagining it, but Phoenix did not look like he was joking. The slumped posture--even more than usual--and the eyes looking everywhere but him. They appeared to be moist. Appeared. Which meant that it could still be his imagination, but each second of silence was rising the doubt meter another notch. "Wright?" He said the name softly, as if afraid of hurting his friend albeit rival.