An Analysis of Eudora Weltys A Worn Path Essay - 865 Words

A Worn Path – An Analysis The short story A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, is a descriptive story of a grandmothers difficult journey, for a grandson she loves. Her devotion to her grandson and wanting to provide him with a better lifestyle, was her motivation to overcome these trials. On this trip, Phoenix Jackson, the grandmother, struggles against old age, nature, and reality. Phoenix Jackson was certainly a dedicated old lady. She refused to give up, despite the odds against her, to help her grandson. Her grandson was very sick, and needed certain medication to live. After traveling miles through wilderness, barbed wire, thorn bushes, and being confronted by a white man with a gun, she still persisted on her†¦show more content†¦She expresses her joy in accomplishing this feat by saying, I wasnt as old as I thought(213). The reader may notice that throughout the book Phoenix Jackson is referred to as Old Phoenix, Old being in capital letters suggest that its more than just an adjective describing her but rather a part of her. Even when she arrives into town, she needs another ladies assistance in tying her shoes, because she cannot do it herself. And the struggle continues, as even when shes at the hospital, she forgets the reason for her journey momentarily. Along with struggling against her old age Phoenix Jackson had many elements of nature holding her back from helping her grandson. She had to travel very far to reach the hospital for his medicine. On her way she encountered many elements of wildlife, of which she scared out of her path. Her dress was constantly caught in the brush and was in danger of being ruined as she passed a barbed wire fence. This also took place during Christmas time when it more than likely was extremely cold out side. But Phoenixs desire to help her grandson, and save his life, while also preserving some life of her own, helped her strive in completing this trip. When one thinks about the reasoning for this journey, many conclusions can be made. From the content provided in the story and the readers knowledge of the time period it was written in, we know that this was during a period of time when it wasShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Eudora Weltys A Worn Path905 Words   |  4 Pagespeople to go out of their way, and when they have nothing left, it makes them continue. On the other hand, it may be to overcoming that it blinds the person, and he or she does not know the full consist of the situations he or she is in. In Eudora Weltys A Worn Path, Phoenix Jackson is perceived as determined and loving due to her actions, yet at the same time, she seems innocent and at loss of the situation she is in. Thought the story, Jackson is portrayed as being a determined person. Many obstaclesRead MoreSymbolic Source In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty1287 Words   |  6 Pagesexample the colors white, red and blue symbolize freedom in the United States, it also represents the United States flag. Symbols are also used in movies like the hunger games catching fire; their symbol is a mocking bird with an arrow on it. A Worn Path is about a long walk through the woods an old lady named Phoenix Jackson has to go through every time her grandson runs out of medicine. A long time ago her grandson swallowed lye that ruined his throat, the medicine is the only thing that relivesRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of A Worn Path1221 Words   |  5 PagesOvercoming Obstacles: A Literary Analysis of â€Å"A Worn Path† Thesis: â€Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty is one of the best short stories to incorporate different symbolic representations of determination and the will to live. I. Introduction II. Phoenix A. Definition B. Characteristics III. Natural symbolism A. Steep hill B. Thorns of bush IV. Perceived Racism A. Imagined cake B. White hunter V. Arrival in Natchez A. Nurses’ comments BRead MoreDecoding The Symbolism Used in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty1276 Words   |  6 PagesToday we will be talking about the different literary references used throughout Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path†. I will explain and decode different techniques used by the author throughout her story. The story is of an old southern African American woman, named Phoenix Jackson, making her way into to town to pick up her grandsons medication from the doctor’s office. But this is no normal old woman. She cannot see and is picking her way with a cane to make her way across a barrage of obstaclesRead MoreNever Give Up: a Character Analysis of Phoenix from Weltys A Worn Path977 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis of Phoenix from Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path† By STUDENT NAME Professor NAME CLASS NAME DATE Outline Thesis statement: In â€Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson displays extraordinary perseverance in the face of difficulty, which ultimately allows her to accomplish her goal. I. Personal obstacles A. Body B. Mind II. Physical obstacles A. Nature B. Society Never Give Up: A Character Analysis of Phoenix from Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path† AlthoughRead MoreA Worn Path: Struggle For Racial Equality Essay1522 Words   |  7 PagesA Worn Path: Struggle for Racial Equality In A Worn Path, a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a worn path through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics haveRead MoreA Worn Path: Struggle for Racial Equality1550 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A Worn Path†: Struggle for Racial Equality In â€Å"A Worn Path†, a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a â€Å"worn path† through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics haveRead MoreEudora Welty s A Worn Path956 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction James Saunders wrote an interesting article â€Å"’A Worn Path’ The Eternal Quest of Welty’s Phoenix Jackson† (The Southern Literary Journal 25.1, Fall 1992: p62-73.) that not only analyzed Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path† (The Collected Works of Eudora Welty) from his perspective but also included the perspectives of other authors which makes his article an excellent source for interpretations of ‘A Worn Path’. Summary Saunders article summarizes Phoenix Jackson as a symbol of the ChristianRead MoreA Worn Path By Eudora Welty1707 Words   |  7 PagesFebruary 2016 A Worn Path In the Eudora Welty’s ‘‘A Worn Path’’, there is a distinct description of characters that live in the era of segregation and the great depression. Because Welty is a native of the south, this story is based from the experiences during her life. Her struggles are relived in the characters of not just â€Å"A Worn Path† but also a lot of her other stories. She uses hidden messages in her stories and includes deep meaning in the simplest of characters and instances. Welty’s use of theRead MoreA Worn Path By Eudora Welty944 Words   |  4 PagesWhat reaches would you go to in order to aid the ones you love? In â€Å"A Worn Path,† by Eudora Welty, the reader is taken on Phoenix Jackson’s, the main character’s, journey to the doctor’s office to obtain the medications needed for her ill grandson. Having to commute in such difficult conditions, Phoenix endures through the dense and tiresome woods, stretching from th e countryside to the town. After persevering through the long journey to her destination, Phoenix arrives at the building and receives