Way back when, an elderly African-American woman named Phoenix Jackson went on a familiar journey to town. On this journey, she was met with difficulty and disrespect, but that did not stop her from getting to her destination. As one critic says,” In “A Worn Path,” the author utilizes the conventions of the heroic journey to describe the adventures of a woman who is unaware of her own heroism” (Reisman). The story tells about the journey Phoenix goes on and how much trouble she goes through. The story also shows her heroism in going a far distance to get something as small as her sick grandson’s medicine. In this short story, “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty tells about the characterization, conflict, and theme to show the struggles of a black woman back in the day.
For instance, the reader can tell that Phoenix Jackson is very strong mentally even though, physically, she is old and frail. Even with all the disrespect that is thrown at her she stands her ground and stays calm. As said by a white man in the story, “Doesn’t this gun scare you?” to which she replies, “No, sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done” (Welty 6). In this quote, it is showing that Phoenix is standing her ground even though she is being faced with the possibility of death. Having a gun pointed in ones face is a threat but to Phoenix she has no problem dealing with the consequences that might come up in this kind of situation. “This is what come to me to do,” she said. “I going to the store and buy my child a little windmill they sells, made out of paper. He going to find it hard to believe there such a thing in the world” (Welty 9). This quote shows that even though Phoenix does not have very much money, when she is given the opportunity and extra money, she spends it on her grandson and not herself. This represents that she is not greedy in character and cares more about the health and happiness of her grandson then herself. Furthermore, this story shows many conflicts that this little old lady is going through and how she handles …show more content…
As stated by Phoenix,” Can’t lace ‘em with a cane,” said Phoenix. “Thank you, missy. I doesn’t mind asking a nice lady to tie up my shoe, when I gets out on the street.”(Welty 6) Phoenix is faced with the problem of her shoe being untied and not being able to tie it herself since she has a cane. Even though phoenix is an old black woman, back in those days blacks were not very respected. So to get a white woman to tie her shoe shows that some people still have respect for the elderly no matter their color. The story states, “Are you deaf?” cried the attendant. But then the nurse came in. “Oh, that’s just old Aunt Phoenix,” she said. “She doesn’t come here for herself—she has a little grandson. She makes these trips just as regular as clockwork” (Welty 7). Phoenix has a grandson who, when he was younger, swallowed lye (a drain cleaner like solution). She makes these long journeys to his doctors to get medication for him even though his throat is not healing very
For instance, the reader can tell that Phoenix Jackson is very strong mentally even though, physically, she is old and frail. Even with all the disrespect that is thrown at her she stands her ground and stays calm. As said by a white man in the story, “Doesn’t this gun scare you?” to which she replies, “No, sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done” (Welty 6). In this quote, it is showing that Phoenix is standing her ground even though she is being faced with the possibility of death. Having a gun pointed in ones face is a threat but to Phoenix she has no problem dealing with the consequences that might come up in this kind of situation. “This is what come to me to do,” she said. “I going to the store and buy my child a little windmill they sells, made out of paper. He going to find it hard to believe there such a thing in the world” (Welty 9). This quote shows that even though Phoenix does not have very much money, when she is given the opportunity and extra money, she spends it on her grandson and not herself. This represents that she is not greedy in character and cares more about the health and happiness of her grandson then herself. Furthermore, this story shows many conflicts that this little old lady is going through and how she handles …show more content…
As stated by Phoenix,” Can’t lace ‘em with a cane,” said Phoenix. “Thank you, missy. I doesn’t mind asking a nice lady to tie up my shoe, when I gets out on the street.”(Welty 6) Phoenix is faced with the problem of her shoe being untied and not being able to tie it herself since she has a cane. Even though phoenix is an old black woman, back in those days blacks were not very respected. So to get a white woman to tie her shoe shows that some people still have respect for the elderly no matter their color. The story states, “Are you deaf?” cried the attendant. But then the nurse came in. “Oh, that’s just old Aunt Phoenix,” she said. “She doesn’t come here for herself—she has a little grandson. She makes these trips just as regular as clockwork” (Welty 7). Phoenix has a grandson who, when he was younger, swallowed lye (a drain cleaner like solution). She makes these long journeys to his doctors to get medication for him even though his throat is not healing very