A Worn Path
In Eudora Welty's short story "A Worn Path" we quickly learn love can give us strength to overcome adversity. The author chooses to use the character of the story as well as the symbols to develop the theme of the story. The short story is a tale about an elderly woman's journey into town, which the audience finds out in the end to purchase medicine for her sick grandson. The elderly woman, Phoenix Jackson is a poor fragile African American woman who suffers from hallucinations and poverty. Phoenix is very determined to complete her journey, though many obstacles exist. The reason for her journey, to receive medicine for her sick grandson, has a chronic throat condition caused by drinking lye. Despite her age and fragility, Phoenix is very stubborn which gives her the ability to overcome nearly impossible odds, through her determination, which is fueled by the love for her grandson. Through her love for her grandson, she is devoted to complete her journey. At first the audience is unsure of whether Phoenix will
She strays far from the typical character of an elderly woman. The paper windmill that Phoenix wants to purchase for her sick grandson represents the fragile of Phoenix and the child, yet it also represents the refueling of energy that Phoenix receives from her grandson. With eyes that are "blue with age", "numberless branching wrinkles", and with a cane that Phoenix "kept tapping the frozen earth in front of her" with, we know that Phoenix is old, with failing eyesight. Also windmills are very intricate and the use to produce useful energy. This shows not only her love for her grandson, but represents how fragile both her and her grandson. Just as her name, Phoenix, the fairy-tale bird that burned itself, and raised a new, young bird. complete her journey, talking to herself, stopping to rest, hallucinating but later the reader discovers that she is in fact quite able. When Phoenix is confronted with her first obstacle, walking of a hill, Phoenix is said to walk like a pendulum on a clock, slow and steady. Her first hallucination that of a boy who offers Phoenix a slice of marble cake represents that of her sick grandson. Her love for her grandson acts like an energy booster and causes her to accomplish things that could not have been done if not for his sake. The obstacles, such as the wired fence, the bush is all representations of the obstacles that we encounter in every day life. Just as her name is a symbol of the story, so are the obstacles and many other elements throughout the story. The paper windmill, fragile like Phoenix, even the smallest breath of air will affect her physical stability. Phoenix and her grandson are dependent of one another. With the face of such great obstacles, in light of her failing health and age, Phoenix continues to find strength to keep moving to town.
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Acceptance Essays
