A Worn Path
If you are going to hold out until the last, you have to overcome the selfishness and all obstacles by loving others. In the short story “The Worn Path”, Eudora Welty brings to life through the use of the character Phoenix Jackson and symbols. The reason why Phoenix takes this journey is to get medicine for her grandson who has been ill for quite awhile. Phoenix encounters a lot of physical challenges, obstacles and danger on her way, but she overcomes all of them because she loves her grandson. Her strong determination shows that the strength of love can make people do unusual and implausible things.
The protagonist in “A Worn Path” is Phoenix Jackson, a determined, uneducated, frail, and old woman who lives along the Natchez Trace. The story narrates Phoenix’s long and hard journey by walking from her home to Natchez. Phoenix states, “I’m an old woman without an education. It was my memory fail me” (171). It obviously shows that Phoenix is really a helpless and senile woman. On the other hand, Phoenix also faces antagonists both internal and external during her long journey. There are lots of external factors, such as her age, poor eyesight, cold weather, the fierce dog, and the hunter etc. However, Phoenix knows the way without being able to see because she has walked the path and hills so many times. The internal factors are her consciousness, fearless, and memory loss. She even can’t remember what she made her long journey for when she gets to the hospital. Nonetheless, Phoenix overcomes these obstacles with courage because she is determined to go to the town.
In the beginning of the story, it depicts, “it was December-a bright frozen day in the early morning” (165). It indicates that the weather is so atrocious. Phoenix is very weak and frail because of her old age so that makes her journey much more strenuous. For Phoenix, even though the journey is long and lonely, she never feels that because she loves her grandson and strongly desires to obtain
The protagonist in “A Worn Path” is Phoenix Jackson, a determined, uneducated, frail, and old woman who lives along the Natchez Trace. The story narrates Phoenix’s long and hard journey by walking from her home to Natchez. Phoenix states, “I’m an old woman without an education. It was my memory fail me” (171). It obviously shows that Phoenix is really a helpless and senile woman. On the other hand, Phoenix also faces antagonists both internal and external during her long journey. There are lots of external factors, such as her age, poor eyesight, cold weather, the fierce dog, and the hunter etc. However, Phoenix knows the way without being able to see because she has walked the path and hills so many times. The internal factors are her consciousness, fearless, and memory loss. She even can’t remember what she made her long journey for when she gets to the hospital. Nonetheless, Phoenix overcomes these obstacles with courage because she is determined to go to the town.
In the beginning of the story, it depicts, “it was December-a bright frozen day in the early morning” (165). It indicates that the weather is so atrocious. Phoenix is very weak and frail because of her old age so that makes her journey much more strenuous. For Phoenix, even though the journey is long and lonely, she never feels that because she loves her grandson and strongly desires to obtain