A Worn Path
Ordeal of Devotion In "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty an elderly African American woman named Phoenix Jackson picks a cold December day to make yet another perilous journey to a near by city to get medicine for her ailing grandson. On the way this ninety-year-old woman faces many obstacles, both natural and man-made. Phoenix draws upon her perseverance and willingness to sacrifice herself to help her throughout her journey, but it is the undying love for her grandson that truly guides and drives her to her final goal. Phoenix Jackson has a seemingly inexhaustible amount of determination. From the moment that she sets out on her trek, she must fight all the challenges that nature has made for her. From the very beginning there is the threat of attack by wild animals and Phoenix shouts "out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals!" undauntingly challenging them. Phoenix is a very old woman whose aged, fragile body isn't suited to make such a l!ong journey. At one point when she is climbing up a hill, she states that it seems like "there is chains about my feet, time I get this far." And yet she still trudges onward, stopping only once for a short break. On the way down the hill she gets caught i
The first person that she meets is a hunter. But then his manner turns unfriendly. Next she comes across a barbwire fence, and once again without showing any signs of fear she fords ahead crossing that too. In the beginning he seems like a benevolent character because "he lifted her up, gave her a swing in the air, and set her down," helping her out of the ditch that a dog had pushed her into. Even when a nurse, who knows Phoenix, comes in and reminds her of her grandson, Phoenix doesn't remember. He even inquires "anything broken, Granny?" and goes on to ask her where she lives. As Phoenix says herself, she is "an old woman without an education," who has probably lived in the country all of her life. He even starts to belittle her, trying to insinuate that his race is superior to hers. Across Phoenix's path lies a creek and across the creek lies a log, which substitutes as a bridge. Only when the nurse cold-heartedly says, "he isn't dead is he?" does Phoenix remember. Wouldn't miss going to town to see Santa Claus!" he says implying that Phoenix would make such a long and arduous trip to satisfy a mere childish whim. "Doesn't the gun scare you?" he asks. Such a hostile environment is the city.
Common topics in this essay:
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Santa Claus,
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Eudora Welty,
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ailing grandson,
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grandson phoenix,
wild animals,
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Acceptance Essays
