Worn Path by Eudora Welty
Essay One: “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty “A Worn Path” is a magnificent story about an old black woman, Phoenix Jackson, who faces a challenging journey through the countryside to get medicine for her grandson. ... There are several places along her path that reveal Welty’s character Phoenix as a woman who is, although old and poor, lively, blessed and in love with life. In the story, Phoenix journey begins on a path through the pinewoods. ... Along with this Welty gives a wonderful description of Phoenix skin, which has a pattern branching in wrinkles that resemble a tree, with a golden color to her skin. ... The second section on the path is the hill. ... After she gets to the top of the hill Welty writes, “ she gave a full, severe look behind her where she had come”. ... Surprisingly, Welty proves Phoenix determination again by having Phoenix, this old lady, crawl through a barbed wire fence. Welty also points out that Phoenix is lively and like a baby trying to climb steps. Welty also shows how concerned Phoenix is about her appearance. ... “She reached her hand up, but nothing reached down and gave her a pull” Here I think Welty is showing us that Phoenix might be ready to go to heaven, but her times is not over she must complete her journey and God does not reach down to bring her up. ... Welty also has Phoenix compare her grandson to a bird waiting to be fed by its mother. ... Eudora Welty has written a great story about love and life. ... Throughout the story we can see that phoenix is a great and deserving name for Welty’s character.