A Worn Path Analysis Essay

Phoenix is the main character, and protagonist of Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path”, Written in 1941. Throughout the story, we follow Phoenix on a long journey that she is taking through the woods, for which we are at first given no origin point or destination. On her journey, we see Phoenix display a memory both with incredible ability, and with faults of old age. We also see her encounter and overcome many obstacles set by both her environment, and her poor eyesight, a symptom of old age. Finally, we learn of phoenix’s compassion, and caring nature as she reaches the end of her journey, and we are given explanation as to what would compel such an old woman to travel so far on her own. When our story opens on Phoenix’s journey, the first of character attribute we are introduced to is her very poor eyesight, as we see her finding her path by taping the ground with a re-proposed umbrella. Phoenix’s near complete lack of vision is …show more content…
At times Phoenix’s memory is a guiding force, as even though she is unable to clearly see her path, she is still able to reach her destination by applying her memory of the route. Several times throughout the story we see her using her memory by repeating instructions to herself for how to get to town, such as “Up through the pines, … Now down through the oaks”, when she passes over the hill, or “Through the Maze Now” while walking through fields of corn and cotton. We even see her take her even more faith in her memory as she effortlessly remembers the location of a safe well that produces sweet water, and when she passes over a log-bridge without falling in, all without being able to properly see them. However, Phoenix’s memory can also fail her, such as when she has a dilution of a boy handing her cake while she rests by a tree, or when she forgets the purpose of her journey whenever she finally arrives at the