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Summary Of A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

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Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path” represents the journey of an elderly black woman, named Phoenix Jackson. In the beginning, this journey seems to have no meaning at all. Phoenix travels through the woods, encountering many obstacles, engagements of rude comments, and moments of loneliness. Later, in the story the reader starts to realize the journey does have a purpose. She takes this walk to get medicine for her sick grandson. The purpose of the story is Phoenix demonstrates that determination and will enabled her to continue the journey for her grandson. The two different types of obstacles Phoenix faces, one being the physical condition of her body being due to her age, blindness, and the bad state her mind is in. Without a doubt, …show more content…

Phoenix is a bird that has matured and then that will burst into flames to be reborn. Which relates to the story as Phoenix continues to raise every time something gets in her way she doesn’t let it stop her. She continues her journey for her ill grandson. However, throughout the story sometimes Phoenix has us second guessing whether or not she’s gonna make it to her destination. Seeing that, she is an elderly woman traveling alone through the woods during the winter. In every way possible she lets us know that no matter what obstacles are thrown at her she was going to get the medicine her grandson needs. But, living during this time it was not safe for her to be traveling alone with no help. The accomplishment of her journey is because of her strength and love for her sick grandson. Although she suffers from many disabilities she is mentally prepared from the obstacles she is about to face. Phoenix uses her inner strength and continues through the many obstacles. She puts her trust in her feet to make up for her eyes. Phoenix’s determination makes up for her aged memory to help through the journey she is taking. But, the love she has for her grandson keeps her

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“A Worn Path” describes the journey of an elderly black women named Phoenix Jackson who walks from her home to the city to get medicine for her sick grandson. As she walks, she struggles against mental fatigue and poor eyesight. She mistakes a scarecrow for a ghost until she realizes it is not a ghost. She also meets a white male who seems nice, but is rude with his commits about trying to make her go back home. When he drop a nickel, she quickly realizes it was money.

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Pheonix Jackson’s grandson is dead because she shows signs of dementia, she hesitates when asked about how the boy is doing, and she says words that imply the boy isn’t changing. The story “ A Worn Path” follows the difficult trip routinely made by Pheonix on foot to a nearby town for her grandson’s medicine which he needs for his swollen throat. Pheonix shows signs of dementia which would affect her perception of reality and her grandson being alive or dead. In the line, “At first she took it as a man,” referring to her encountering a scarecrow, Pheonix shows that her senses are inadequate enough to believe a scarecrow is a man dancing in a field (762). Pheonix is more reliant on her body remembering the trail than her sense of sight

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This serves as an example of how a lack of familial ties can prevent an individual from overcoming intergenerational trauma. The relationship between Phoenix and her mother Elsie is portrayed as distant and estranged. This is exemplified in a scene where Phoenix is going to prison and Elsie attempts to reach out to her, but she rejects the gesture by moving away and refusing to touch her mother. Phoenix also expressed disdain for her mother's weakness, “she does not want to look at her, does not want to see Elsie groveling in her Elsie way, being weak. She does not want to feel sorry for her, or feel anything for her” (Vermette 323).

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485 Words | 2 Pages

Also like Everyday Use, A Worn Path takes place at a time in the 1900s when racism existed. Just like Mama, Phoenix also takes care and protects a child. However, the child she takes care of is her grandson. Many years ago, her grandson swallowed lye. This is a strong substance which is used in making soap.

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The phoenix represents the ability to rise from the ashes of defeat and overcome obstacles. This archetype is evident in both Sean and Puck's storylines. Sean has faced numerous setbacks in his life, including the death of his father and the loss of his mother's love. However, he refuses to give up and continues to persevere in his pursuit of victory in the Scorpio Races. Similarly, Puck has faced significant obstacles, including the death of her parents and the financial struggles of her family.

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In the memoir, The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls, the author, was most influenced by her time in Phoenix, as indicated by how she describes the living situation in her grandma's old house with the money, and the time they had to tie her dad down because he was going delusional. It is evident throughout the story that living in Phoenix had a great impact on Jeannette Walls, She had spent more time there than any other place and she even came back after leaving. The first time was just to visit Grandma Smith, but the second time they came back to stay for awhile in Grandma Smith’s old house. The family’s time in Phoenix is described mainly about the house there and what happened in or around that house.

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“The gun on the floor. Bending to pick it up. The noise that exploded around us. This is what I know about myself. She was all I wanted.

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The Phoenix: The Phoenix symbolizes rebirth. The Phoenix is known for rising from the ashes after being burned. In the story after the city has been destroyed, Granger compares the destruction to the bird. Both are destroyed and rise from the destruction. So if Granger and the others use their knowledge, they won’t be like the Phoenix and prevent destruction.

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She exemplifies Christ along her journey when she stops under a mistletoe tree; the same type of tree in which the cross was made. The thorns she encounters also relate to Christ’s death on the cross, the crown of thorns he wears on his head. The journey she takes to get her grandson’s medicine, is considered to be an example of self-sacrifice. Phoenix gives others the opportunity to help her and accomplish good things. One example is when the hunter helps her out of the ditch.

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At the beginning of Phoenix’s journey, she encounters a hunter. While in the presence of the hunter not only does he hold the elderly women at gunpoint, but he also tries to convince her to turn around

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The similarities between the mythical bird, Phoenix and the old woman, Phoenix Jackson are profound and worthy of pointing out. The Phoenix lives a long time and Phoenix Jackson is old: the bird has scarlet and gold feathers while the old woman wears red on her head and has yellow skin tones. Bird references are also a huge part who of Phoenix Jackson is, especially n is the description the old woman gives of her grandson when she says “He wear a little patch quilt and peep out holding his mouth open like a little bird” (Welty 221,227). Phoenix Jackson’s journey to Natchez and back for her grandchild’s medicine shows a protective and nurturing quality, like a bird taking care of its young in the wild.

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1687 Words | 7 Pages

Phoenix is considered to be selfless, on her journey she is not sure of the goal but she knows it needs to be done. Even through her forgetfulness, she still pushes through for the sake of her grandson, and his declining health. She travels through the dangerous Mississippi countryside through thorns and a variety of animals without giving it a second thought. This is, in fact, the most recurring motif in the short story. There are many different literary devices present in this short story, another is

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883 Words | 4 Pages

Beyond the Walk to Natchez A historical great piece of literary art, “A Worn Path” published in 1941, is a story of an old woman’s journey to town through the forest. The setting is rural Mississippi in the 1940’s, a time when racism was a way of life and a trip to town, especially for an old black woman, was often a long journey and thus a trip not often taken. The old woman’s name is Phoenix Jackson and she has quite an adventurous trip through the forest to town. One is made to believe this is just an average walk down the path for this old woman; however the reader is entertained by Phoenix’s mannerisms and realizes there is deeper meaning of the story.

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738 Words | 3 Pages

Phoenix is doing this out of her selfless and kind heart for her loved ones. If she never cared and was selfish then she would never be making these difficult journeys and wasting her time for someone

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725 Words | 3 Pages

Phoenix quest is to get to town to get her grandson the medicine he needs. Her grandson is very ill and can not get his own medicine. That 's why everyday she take the longer journey to go into town. She knows the journey is going to be long and hard, but she is willing to push through the struggle to help her grandson.

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