Life Ain’t Always Easy
(A discussion of the physical and social struggles Phoenix Jackson faces) Life is never easy for anyone. As humans, we face constant trials and tribulations whether that be physically, financially, emotionally, or even mentally. One author in particular, Eudora Welty, uses the theme of tribulation in her stories and ends with some sort of optimism. In Veronica Makowsky’s biography of Eudora Welty’s life titled Welty, Eudora 1909—published in 1998 in New York, she explains the root of Welt’s writing in one sentence. Makowsky claims, “As her views of the human capacity for imaginative and compassionate growth indicate, Welty’s attitude toward experience is ultimately optimistic and comic” (Makowsky). One prime example …show more content…
Welty capitalizes on the fact that life is a constant struggle. She has a meaning behind her fiction though a meaning greater than the tribulations of a single person. Neil Isaacs best describes this with an equation His article titled Lie for Phoenix published in 1998 in Detroit is all about the life and greater meaning behind Eudora’s story. Isaacs conclude, “Whether the mythical journey of the sun across the heavens or a boy 's trip down the Mississippi or any other variation, is its implicit equation with life: the road of life, life 's journey, ups and downs, the straight and narrow, and a host of other clichés reflect the universality of this primitive metaphor in A Worn Path” (Isaacs). In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, the main character, a black woman named Phoenix Jackson faces many struggles such as the physical struggle along the path to town, the physical and social …show more content…
She is not necessarily embarrassed by charity and giving, she is embarrassed about being on the receiving end of that charity. She is drawn into herself and lost because she is not in “self-concern” as James Walter explains it in his article titled “Love’s Habit of Vision in Welty’s Phoenix Jackson” published in 1986 in Detroit (Walter). Like her name suggests, she rises from the ashes time and time again to live her life or really, get what she needs in the way she needs it. After acquiring the medicine she struggled to ask for, she received a nickel to accompany the stolen one and buy a Christmas present for her grandson. She really loved her grandson which is why she even made the trek and endured all of the challenges along the path. Her challenges represent a larger meaning of life. They represent the obstacles and mountains we face as we walk our path of life which is not as worn as the long path to town for Phoenix. Clearly, she struggled socially as she was not prepared or comfortable with asking for the medicine or receiving it as a charity
(A discussion of the physical and social struggles Phoenix Jackson faces) Life is never easy for anyone. As humans, we face constant trials and tribulations whether that be physically, financially, emotionally, or even mentally. One author in particular, Eudora Welty, uses the theme of tribulation in her stories and ends with some sort of optimism. In Veronica Makowsky’s biography of Eudora Welty’s life titled Welty, Eudora 1909—published in 1998 in New York, she explains the root of Welt’s writing in one sentence. Makowsky claims, “As her views of the human capacity for imaginative and compassionate growth indicate, Welty’s attitude toward experience is ultimately optimistic and comic” (Makowsky). One prime example …show more content…
Welty capitalizes on the fact that life is a constant struggle. She has a meaning behind her fiction though a meaning greater than the tribulations of a single person. Neil Isaacs best describes this with an equation His article titled Lie for Phoenix published in 1998 in Detroit is all about the life and greater meaning behind Eudora’s story. Isaacs conclude, “Whether the mythical journey of the sun across the heavens or a boy 's trip down the Mississippi or any other variation, is its implicit equation with life: the road of life, life 's journey, ups and downs, the straight and narrow, and a host of other clichés reflect the universality of this primitive metaphor in A Worn Path” (Isaacs). In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, the main character, a black woman named Phoenix Jackson faces many struggles such as the physical struggle along the path to town, the physical and social …show more content…
She is not necessarily embarrassed by charity and giving, she is embarrassed about being on the receiving end of that charity. She is drawn into herself and lost because she is not in “self-concern” as James Walter explains it in his article titled “Love’s Habit of Vision in Welty’s Phoenix Jackson” published in 1986 in Detroit (Walter). Like her name suggests, she rises from the ashes time and time again to live her life or really, get what she needs in the way she needs it. After acquiring the medicine she struggled to ask for, she received a nickel to accompany the stolen one and buy a Christmas present for her grandson. She really loved her grandson which is why she even made the trek and endured all of the challenges along the path. Her challenges represent a larger meaning of life. They represent the obstacles and mountains we face as we walk our path of life which is not as worn as the long path to town for Phoenix. Clearly, she struggled socially as she was not prepared or comfortable with asking for the medicine or receiving it as a charity