A Worn Path Research Paper

Welcome to “Life and Death in Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’” an article written by Ronald Bartel. In his article, Bartel analyzes the character of Phoenix Jackson from Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path”. Due to the limitation of time, we will be focusing on one major key in Bartel’s article. Today we will discuss Bartel’s view on how Phoenix Jackson’s journey to the city helps her prepare herself for her own death.

In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path.” the main character Phoenix Jackson faces many different obstacles on her journey, but does she give up, let them get the best of her? No, she continues on, and makes sure to finish what she started. Phoenix is a devoted grandmother who would do anything for her beloved grandson, even if that means she has to face; humiliation, racism, ageism and her own physical “flaws”. She faces these problems, and even though they may be hard to face, but she handles the situations with ease, because she knows that getting the medicine for her sick grandson is the most important.

Once the North won the American Civil War, slaves in America were emancipated, but they still had to face segregation through out the country. Since Phoenix is an African American, it is reasonable to say she represents that social class as well. Women of that particular time period could be represented by Phoenix, since she is a woman, because they were overcoming the patriarchy of society. Phoenix’s name also depicts her own character as she gets past her obstacles and keeps traveling on the worn path. In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” Phoenix Jackson’s name is symbol of the society that surrounds her and depicts her own character.

Phoenix Jackson is an older black woman, making a journey to the town of Natchez, Mississippi. The author portrays her as a woman having imaginations and seeing things that do not exist. Eudora Welty writes, “when a little boy brought her a plate with a slice of marble-cake on it she spoke to him. 'That would be acceptable,' she said. But when she went to take it there was just her own hand in the air (Welty 57). The author is swaying the reader into believing that Phoenix Jackson is envisioning that makes it look, as if she is crazy. Phoenix Jackson was in reality, envisioning her grandson who

She has two different condition through out the story. She gets calm and smart when she met the hunter and the nurse. But she gets slow and blind when she walking in the woods and talking about her grandson. She keep talking to herself during the journey, she wants all the animals and trees and bushes let her walk pass the woods, she get trap by the bushes because she can not see thing well. But after she fall into the ditch, she met the hunter, suddenlly she is able to watch a coin drop from the hunter’s pocket, and quickly pick it up without notice. And when she talking to the nurse and the hunter, she was acting, because the old lady knows when she speak cartain things, people will not bother her anymore. Phoenix Jackson is a wise women who live through the South North War, and her body condition is very healthy for a old women like her. But she gets slow when she thinking about her grandson, animals and trees in some way represents innocence and pure, which just like her grandson. I think it is the reason why she keeps talking to the animals and plants during the

In conclusion, Eudora Welty did a tremendous job of capturing the glory of Phoenix Jackson. While reading this story, I could tell by her words that Phoenix was a warm, kind, old, and gentle soul. Eudora Welty showed me the mightiness, love, and rebelliousness that is in Phoenix Jackson. I now know of another strong, independent black woman. That woman’s name is Phoenix

Phoenix Jackson was an African American woman who had dignity and pride as well. Seems that if Phoenix set her mind on something, that was what was going to happen regardless of the situation. The story was about her making it to town to get medicine for her boy. There was nothing Phoenix would not do for the boy she loved dearly. She learned to take the humiliation and insulting at the time when she was called a charity case. Phoenix was determined to complete her mission despite the disrespect she would face during her mission. She realized it would not be easy for her. Here this woman was caring, devoted, and a determined grandmother who will do whatever it took, including putting her life in danger to reach her destination to get her grandson’s

Trials and tribulations are thrusted upon Phenox Jackson as she journeys from her serene home in the countryside to the city for her grandson’s medicine. She encounters dangers that many people would flee from, yet she stands her ground and continues on her path. Through these dangers, Eudora Welty, author of A Worn Path, uses direct and indirect characterization through Phoenix Jackson’s description and actions. Welty paints a picture by Jackson’s characterizations that show how she is capable of withstanding obstacles and is tenacious on her journey into the seemingly unforgiving city.

Phoenix was almost certainly a slave for a large portion of her life. When she reaches the doctor’s office in town, Phoenix tells the nurse, “I never did go to school – I was too old at the Surrender” (Welty 15). The reader can assume that Phoenix’s grandson is among the first generation of Southern blacks to be born after the Civil War therefore among the first generation to be afforded the opportunity to receive an education. Phoenix entered the doctor’s office and “she saw nailed up on the wall the document that had been stamped with the gold seal and framed in the gold frame which matched the dream that was hung up in her head” (Welty 15). The dream hung up in Phoenix’s head is the dream of “the day when degrees hang on her grandson’s bedroom wall, when blacks can go to college” (Sykes). Phoenix is hopeful for her grandson’s future. She is hopeful that he will have more opportunity than she in “this new world that has been opened up for him” (Sykes). Phoenix continues to make the journey to town because she will stop at nothing to give her grandson the opportunities that she never had. Phoenix continues to make this journey because she is hopeful of what is to come; she is hopeful for a brighter

Phoenix Jackson was an old African American lady. She wore a red scarf on her head and had black curly hair, wore a very long dress with tennis shoes. Phoenix also had blue eyes she could not see because of her old age. This woman went through challenges traveled through forests, hills, and streams.

A Worn Path is a frequently studied short story written by Eudora Welty in 1941.This story is structured upon the journey of an old black Negro woman from her home to the city of Natchez to get the medicine for her grandson. The name phoenix Jackson, symbol of life in the face of hardship and death. The name Phoenix comes from an Egyptian bird and symbolize resurrection. This story takes place during Christmas season and the story mainly concern for her grandson representing self sacrifice to him. On the way to Natchez she encounters several obstacles and all the story is about only the obstacles on her path. Phoenix Jackson’s unrelenting progress and her unflinching words, we see a woman who has learned her

She is not taking this trip for herself, but for her grandson, who may already be dead. This observation, plus the fact that she is an old black woman and doesn’t get treated too kindly for it proves that she is willing to go through anything for her grandson. The many trials she faces (the snake, the dog, the hunter) and the way she reacts to them show that she has done this many times, and has courage that branches out from her grandson’s needs. “The empowerment of love in this situation enables Phoenix to put aside her fatigued mentality and to continue with her expedition. This story enables the reader to believe that no matter what happens, Phoenix will hold her principle to make her journey.

Phoenix Jackson was a tough woman for her age. Living only with her sick grandson, Phoenix had little company and

Phoenix Jackson is illustrated with an array of views showing characterization such as being vulnerable and heroic. The beginning of the story Phoenix is being shown as a vulnerable and incapable woman, and then is seen showing moments of courage and stamina. The path ran up a hill. ‘Seem like there are chains about my feet, time I get this far,’….Something always take a hold of me on this hill- pleads I should stay’ (Welty). Being heroic, is that this is an older lady making a journey to get medicine for her grandson, she overcomes walking in the cold, animals, a hunter and other people in the town

Overall, Eudora Welty characterizes Phoenix as a woman with great strength and hope. Phoenix is portrayed as an individual who is willing to risk anything in order to help her grandson. Based on the journey that she takes, that journey is a representation of the struggle she has in her life, but she also proves to herself that it is a journey that she can conquer and is willing to conquer. It just shows how it is possible to move forward instead of letting obstacles take us down or even destroy us.