A Life's Journey
"A Worn Path," by Eudora Welty, is a story about an old, and small Negro woman, Phoenix Jackson, on a long journey from deep in the country and into town. The woman's march is encouraged by the need to obtain medicine for her ill grandson. As she makes her way through the forest to get into town, she comes along many obstacles. Each obstacle that Phoenix passes represents an obstacle that she has encountered throughout her life and conveys not only how hard the trip is for Phoenix Jackson but also how life was in the South. Phoenix Jackson witnesses the Southern black's transformation from slave to citizen. The Pinewood trees tower over Phoenix and she walks in the shadows and starts her journey through the forest. The forest is a symbol of how insignificant Phoenix is in the world; "she was very old and small and she walked in the dark pine shadows." She has always been in the "shadows" of others her whole life, and has been looked down on because of her racial status. Phoenix comes across many animals on her journey, and Phoenix's determination is noticeable, as she pleads with a higher being to "keep the big wild hogs out of my path. Don't let none of those come running in my direction. I got a long way." As she wa
The incident with the hunter symbolizes the resiliency of the black movement toward equality. " This is an upsetting reference to the bound slaves that Phoenix can recall from her long life, yet she continues. The bridge is a representation of her ill grandson. " Phoenix keeps on with her journey, and comes across a hunter in the forest. She goes on her way and comes across a scarecrow that startles her. All the men that she has possibly worked for, and maybe have even become in relations with were "empty" like a ghost, with no heart no feelings, no remorse, just "empty. As Phoenix climbs up the tiresome hill that the path maneuvers, she remarks that it "seems like there is chains on my feet, time I get this far. The staircase is the most important symbol. She takes care of her grandson, because he is unstable and weak and cannot take care of himself. Phoenix is defined as a bird that consumes itself by fire, and renews itself from its ashes to become stronger. Not only does she overcome the ups and downs of her past experiences in life, but she overcomes the obstacles in her present life, too. She overcame and still overcomes obstacles that she crosses in her path everyday. " Welty uses the symbol of the white hunter scaring off the black dog to show the strength of Phoenix's dignity: "Doesn't the gun scare you?' he said, pointing it at her. This may be the reason why she is caring for her grandson.
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