The phoenix is a powerful symbol. This symbol is often used in literature for its symbolic meaning. The mythological bird bursts into flames at the moment of death, but that is only the beginning of the bird’s story. When the bird has transformed into a mere pile of ashes, it is reborn out of those ashes. Therefore, the phoenix is a symbol of rebirth, resurrection, renaissance, and persistence. The UXL Encyclopedia of World Mythology actually clarifies that, “The main theme of the myth of the phoenix is the eternal or everlasting nature of the spirit, with the phoenix symbolizing that spirit.” (Phoenix) Many authors have utilized this strong symbol for obvious reasons, but many use the phoenix to represent different things. While the bird can
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As suggested by the title of this piece, A Worn Path can be interpreted as a story of a journey that has been previously traveled by the character. Phoenix even lends understanding to this concept when she provides evidence of her knowledge of the path. While traveling she thinks to herself, “Up through the pines….Now own through oaks.” (850) This statement clarifies that Phoenix is completely aware of all the components of her journey because she has continually made the journey, just as the phoenix continually relives its life. On an allegorical level, this can be symbolic with the conditions continually suffered by colored people, even post-Civil War. These people continued to be mistreated to extreme degrees after the war, and this was the “worn path” of their race in America. Inequality and hardship were the everyday journeys of African-Americans. However, just like Phoenix continues to make the journey, colored people continued to right the cruelties and live their lives. As William M. Jones accounts in his critical essay, “The main question is why Miss Welty should make the old Negro so completely analogous to this bird. There are numerous possibilities which might involve an allegorical account of the Southern Negro 's plight….” (Jones) The eye of the colored people of the South is directly mirrored by Phoenix in this story. The journey might be repetitive, but just like Phoenix’s missions, the end result is the reason for persistence. Once again, the phoenix represents the notion of constant renewal, but also rebirth, which was the hope for the colored people of the South during this
As suggested by the title of this piece, A Worn Path can be interpreted as a story of a journey that has been previously traveled by the character. Phoenix even lends understanding to this concept when she provides evidence of her knowledge of the path. While traveling she thinks to herself, “Up through the pines….Now own through oaks.” (850) This statement clarifies that Phoenix is completely aware of all the components of her journey because she has continually made the journey, just as the phoenix continually relives its life. On an allegorical level, this can be symbolic with the conditions continually suffered by colored people, even post-Civil War. These people continued to be mistreated to extreme degrees after the war, and this was the “worn path” of their race in America. Inequality and hardship were the everyday journeys of African-Americans. However, just like Phoenix continues to make the journey, colored people continued to right the cruelties and live their lives. As William M. Jones accounts in his critical essay, “The main question is why Miss Welty should make the old Negro so completely analogous to this bird. There are numerous possibilities which might involve an allegorical account of the Southern Negro 's plight….” (Jones) The eye of the colored people of the South is directly mirrored by Phoenix in this story. The journey might be repetitive, but just like Phoenix’s missions, the end result is the reason for persistence. Once again, the phoenix represents the notion of constant renewal, but also rebirth, which was the hope for the colored people of the South during this