A Worn Path

"A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, is the tale of the unstoppable love and care of a grandmother for her grandchild. It tells a story of sheer determination as Phoenix Jackson makes a long journey into town to get medicine for her chronically ill grandson. She strives forward despite frequent obstacles in her way that include her own failing health and the grandchild's slim chance of survival. Phoenix Jackson is "an old Negro woman" who continues forward over barriers that would not even be considered a hindrance for the young. This is a journey which she has taken before, and now "the time come around" she must travel it again. She begins her journey to town on "a bright frozen day in the early morning" in December. Phoenix Jackson is "very old and small ", and walks like the "pendulum in a grandfather clock" ever so carefully with her "thin, small cane made from an umbrella." The description of Phoenix Jackson at the beginning of this story gives the reader a glimpse of how difficult this trip is going to be for an elderly woman such as her. The description "Her eyes were blue with age. Her skin has a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles" are indications of Phoenix Jackson's old age. She suppo

Throughout the story, sheexhibits signs of senility and delusions including her meeting of ascarecrow which she initially thinks is a man. So the time come around, and I go on another trip for the soothingmedicine. " When old Phoenix reaches "to take it there was just herown hand in the air," and nothing else around. This showsthat her body may be worn out, but the attitude that she takes and desirethat she has in order to get the medicine for her grandson are not. youtake my advice and stay home, and nothing will happen to you. At that pointthe man says, "you must be a hundred years old, and scared of nothing. Then, she goes downhill but soonfinds herself tangled with a bush, and she does not want to rip her dress. She asks "Heisn't dead, is he" Phoenix responds with, "No missy, he not dead, he justthe same. Walking across a log with her eyes closed is another daring thing sheattempts. A nurse recognizes her and inquiresabout her grandson who swallowed lye two to three years ago. She wears a "dress reaching down to hershoe tops" along with "an equally long apron of bleached sugar sacks, with afull pocket.