Essay on Welty
Eudora Welty's short story entitled "A Worn Path" has an apparently basic plot, the journey that the main character, Phoenix Jackson, takes to town to retrieve medicine for her grandson. With her detailed writing, Welty illustrates great development of the main character as well as creating a tone of uncertainty throughout the story. Phoenix's journey begins in the pinewoods, which is where the majority of the story takes place. Her character is exposed as she speaks out loud to herself while encountering her first few obstacles. The hill, the dead bush that catches on her dress, crossing the stream on the log and the barbed wire fence she crawls under shows her as a resolute elderly woman. At times, she fancies herself a
She even rewards herself by taking a rest on the bank and accepting a piece of imagined marble cake. Aware of her petty sin she comments that she knows God is watching her and as if to absolve herself, she quasi-confess' her crime as the oblivious hunter points a gun at her, ". In the beginning of the story, the whole not knowing of her destination added suspense. A fallen nickel catches her eye as the hunter talks and as soon as she has a chance, her old hands retrieve the prize. If the objective of getting medicine for her grandson were placed at the beginning of the story, the mild apprehension would have been lost. Welty illustrates great depth of character and keeps the short story interesting by adding a touch of tension thru ought. Her age and the fact that she used a cane put her physical health in doubt and her momentary lapse of memory put her mental health in doubt as well. How Phoenix Jackson handles the seemingly minor trials encountered on her journey to town define her character. Phoenix's moral fiber is uncovered as she encounters the hunter. With Phoenixs' age and worn condition apparent, I was at times sure she was to meet her death in this story. Thru ought the story Welty creates a sense of uneasiness, not knowing what this elderly woman was doing traipsing through the woods and where she would end up. bit spry, "I wasn't as old as I thought," (Welty 151) she says to herself after crossing the log successfully.
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Acceptance Essays
