An Alternate View In his article, “Life and Death in Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path,’” Roland Bartel pleads for readers to view “A Worn Path” as more than a story of the hardships an elderly African American woman faces. Bartel believes there is more to the story than what appears on the surface. He indulges the idea that Phoenix Jackson’s grandson is not sick, but dead, and that she makes the journey to keep her mind at ease. This view that Bartel possesses creates a whole other side to the famous short story; a more interesting, psychological side that is commonly overlooked. Bartel states that the symbolism in Phoenix Jackson’s name, a mythological bird rising from the ashes, causes the reader to overlook the deep, psychological side to
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As Phoenix arrives to get the medicine, her behavior changes from mild to stoic. She stares straight ahead and is not listening to anything around her. This proves that being inside that doctor’s office where she used to travel to for her grandson is very emotional for her, alluding that her grandson may no longer be living. It is almost as if Phoenix Jackson is unable to explain why she has made this journey. She knows deep down that her grandson is dead, but is not able to accept it, so she often forgets why she has even made the trip to Natchez. Bartel believes that when the nurse begins to question Phoenix about her grandson, it causes Phoenix to remember her grandson and why she came on the journey. Bartel claims that Phoenix Jackson is “overcompensating”, trying to convince the nurse, and even herself, that her grandson is alive. Bartel even suggests that Phoenix leaving the doctor’s office and ascending the stairs is a metaphor for her death. This seems like a bit of an over-stretch as there is no evidence except for baseless speculation by Bartel. He believes that since she has finished her journey of remembrance of her grandson, she is now content to face the end of her life as well. Bartel makes these assumptions by comparing “A Worn Path” to other stories and their endings. These suggestions are a bit too farfetched and there is simply
As Phoenix arrives to get the medicine, her behavior changes from mild to stoic. She stares straight ahead and is not listening to anything around her. This proves that being inside that doctor’s office where she used to travel to for her grandson is very emotional for her, alluding that her grandson may no longer be living. It is almost as if Phoenix Jackson is unable to explain why she has made this journey. She knows deep down that her grandson is dead, but is not able to accept it, so she often forgets why she has even made the trip to Natchez. Bartel believes that when the nurse begins to question Phoenix about her grandson, it causes Phoenix to remember her grandson and why she came on the journey. Bartel claims that Phoenix Jackson is “overcompensating”, trying to convince the nurse, and even herself, that her grandson is alive. Bartel even suggests that Phoenix leaving the doctor’s office and ascending the stairs is a metaphor for her death. This seems like a bit of an over-stretch as there is no evidence except for baseless speculation by Bartel. He believes that since she has finished her journey of remembrance of her grandson, she is now content to face the end of her life as well. Bartel makes these assumptions by comparing “A Worn Path” to other stories and their endings. These suggestions are a bit too farfetched and there is simply