A worn path essay The literature “a worn path” by Eudora Welty is a story about family love and dedication, also the author uses characterization, imagery, and does not reveal the initial conflict until the end of the story. The initial idea of the novel is an old lady named Phoenix Jackson trying to find her way to town for an unknown reason. During this journey she encounters different people and different situations. She even forgets her purpose of the journey at the end, but rediscovers the endgame of her quest, she seems to have vision problems and sometimes her mind might wander. The story as a whole and how an old lady does these frequent but far walks to town are heartwarming. In this story there is an abundance of imagery as there …show more content…
The author describes Phoenix Jackson as a frail elder woman and puts great detail in how she walks unbalanced and gives a vivid description of her facial features. The author wanted to show how a lady this old and physically challenged makes a far journey that makes even an experienced hunter exclaim “That’s too far! That’s as far as I walk when I come out myself, you go on home granny!” Our main character seems to have a problem seeing things as the author states that “her eyes were blue with age”. She has a vision of this little boy giving her a piece of marble cake in the woods so you can assume that her mind isn’t all there. Through all the obstacles she has to face physically and mentally she still goes on to town, she is …show more content…
From having a gun in her face to being looked at with prejudice because of her ragged clothing in the bank, she never fell off from her journey. At the end of the story when she finally arrives at the doctor’s office, she forgets what she came for. Earlier mentioned her mind seemed to be going as she is very old which is what you can expect. As she remembers the initial reason as to why she came in the first place the true motive of her journey is exposed. She went through all these woods and disrespectful people all the way to town to get throat medicine for her grandson who drank lye. It seems that she is the only one who can get the medicine for him as what happened to the parents is unknown. When she receives the medicine from the clinic, she begins her path all the way back to her
The title itself, “A Worn Path,” referred to life as the journey itself through a worn path. Obstacles that Phoenix Jackson faced shows the real-life hardships, lies, and aggressions, that minorities face. Despite its simplicity, Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” does show us some of the greatest of life’s reality.
“A Worn Path” is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is a story of an elderly black woman’s journey into town for her grandson’s medicine. Using lots of imagery throughout the story, the narrator tells us that the woman, Phoenix Jackson takes this dangerous journey out of love for her grandson who is in need of medicine. Throughout her journey, she encounters many people who are of great importance to the story.
In Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" the conflict was not apparent at the very beginning. What was a poor, elderly sick woman doing gallivanting in the forest during the dead of winter? The reason became clear towards the conclusion of the story as the action revealed that the conflict was obtaining the necessary medicine for her grandson. When this conflict became obvious, another question came to mind. What kind of society did this woman live in that she had to go all the way from her home in the countryside to the city by herself to get the medicine? The conflict being illustrated is that of an individual versus society and the four problems that Phoenix faces as a result of this was her old age, her health, her grandson's health and her state of poverty.
Ever imagined a woman so old and small but was still willing to go through any obstacles for a loved one? In the short story, "A Worn Path", by Eudora Welty, the author explains the long journey of an old woman named Phoenix Jackson, who is on a mission to get to her grandson 's medicine. Through her adventurous journey, Welty shows the readers the character traits of Phoenix being courageous, ambitious and full of imagination.
“A Worn Path” tells of an elderly and frail black woman and of the hardships that she must overcome. Upon reading the story, you realize that there is more to the story than meets the eye. She faces many roadblocks along her way. Phoenix faces many dangerous obstacles along her way, for a person of her age. She faces racism from some of characters she meets along the way. Phoenix faces inferior treatment, as though she is nothing more than some insect to squash. This story is about not only her ‘journey’ to Natchez, but also about her journey through society and the struggle to overcome the dangers, being treated inferior, and the racism.
Noelle M. “Symbolism in Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’” Study mode N.P., Oct 2012. Web. 17 Mar 2014.
In "A Worn Path", a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a "worn path" through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics have speculated that this short story represents the love a grandmother shows for her grandson. Others say this story represents life and death, where Phoenix represents an immortal figure. Dennis J. Sykes disagrees with the other critics by saying, "A parallel exists between the journey described and the plight of the Southern blacks after the Civil War" (Sykes). Ultimately, Eudora Welty demonstrates how blacks have been persecuted in a white world.
“A Worn Path” is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is based on an elderly African-American grandmother named Phoenix Jackson, who goes for a walk to the town of Natchez on a cold December morning to get some medicine for her ailing grandson. This story speaks of the obstacles Phoenix endured along the way and how she overcame them. The theme, central idea or message that the author wishes to convey to his or her readers, in “A Worn Path” is one of determination. Phoenix Jackson is determined to get to Natchez, in order to get medicine for her grandson; she does not let any obstacles get in her way. The theme of determination is shown in many ways throughout this short story.
Welty, Eudora. "A Worn Path." The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980. 142-49.
Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path” emphasizes the unselfish love that inspires courage, sacrifice, and love through her use of symbolism.
The story, "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty is a standout amongst the most noteworthy and as often as possible concentrated on works of short fiction. This story is occurred in the South. This district is regularly described by their discourse and propensities. Eudora Welty's dexterous utilization of tone and differing qualities in the story adds activity to make it appear to be all the more genuine. Imagery in "A Worn Path" shows Phoenix Jackson experiencing a progression of snags that speak to her battles to attain to her objective.
In the story A Worn Path, Eudora Welty shows an old woman living in a time period where racial prejudice is rampant and out of control. Phoenix Jackson is a grandmother whose only motivation for living is to nurture her grandson back to health. The strength of love may make people do or say unusual and implausible things. The central idea of this story is that love can empower someone to over come many life-threatening obstacles. The idea is shown when an old woman conquers all odds against her to show her everlasting love for her grandson. Throughout the story Phoenix Jackson has to overcome many types of obstacles that hinder her in her devotion to help her grandson.
Welty, Eudora. “A Worn Path.” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 4th Compact Ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2008, pp. 95-100.
'A Worn Path' is the tale of the unstoppable love and care of a grandmother for her grandchild. Phoenix Jackson is Eudora Welty's main character and protagonist in A Worn Path.? Phoenix is an old, frail woman who attempts to proceed on a long and treacherous journey through the woods to Natchez. Phoenix strives forward despite frequent obstacles in her way that include her own failing health and her grandchild's slim chance of survival. As she takes this prolonged trek across the woods, many of her characteristics are revealed. Her tenacity, senility, and consideration that she displays throughout her long worn path emphasize her character.
In Eudora Welty’s, “A Worn Path” Phoenix Jackson went great lengths risking her own life for her grandson, who couldn’t help himself. On her worn path she faced the world with courage. Although she faced difficulty in her early life, her faith remained the same to help those who were dear to her heart. She walk a worn path relentlessly facing obstacles along the way with a mind that is diminishing overtime. Through the problems that she is faced with, she remains humble. She is admirable because considering her old age, weakness and loss of memory, she is determined. Welty’s details of character, symbolism, conflict and theme creates a compelling and fierce Phoenix Jackson. The moral message in this short story is to show the setting and characterizations