Hinton 1 Hinton, Venekia
Joshua Bowen
English 1123
7 February 2017 A Worn Path
“A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is a story of determination and hope. The short story takes place during the 1940’s in Mississippi. This was a time when African Americans were not treated equal to whites. Welty’s story talks about an elderly African American woman named Phoenix. Phoenix is on a burdensome journey from the country to Jackson, Mississippi. For many people, the journey from the country to the city would not be so difficult, but Phoenix is elderly and racism is still at large. Phoenix had one task to complete and that was making sure that her sick grandson got his medicine. If it was not for determination, devotion, and love she would not have …show more content…
Oak trees, pine trees, sweet gum trees, and dead trees. The trees could have different meanings. Some of the meanings are endurance, strength, wisdom and life. She also encounters different types of birds. The mourning dove symbolizes grief, and the buzzard which represents death. The lye poisoning represents a lack. Phoenix and her grandson had lack of medical care, education, financial resources, and transportation. Lye poison was common among the poor in rural Mississippi. The symptoms of Lye poisoning would cause people to lose their voice, experience starvation, dehydration, and make swallowing very difficult. Conclusively, Lye poisoning represents the lost voice of the indigent and poor through starvation and lack of important …show more content…
These employees were looking for praise for what they could give. They only do this because they know it’s her heart desire to bring her grandson comfort and joy. True charity and love are the motive, not self- praise. Phoenix represents ideal goodness and true courage. Another trait that fuels her determination and will is compassion. She feels great compassion for her grandson and without this feeling of love, she probably would not have had the determination and will necessary to get the medicine. She even says that the grandson is the reason why she "'made [her] long trip'" (98). Even though Phoenix temporarily forgets why she made the trip, once she remembers, her sympathy for her grandson shines through: "'We is the only two left in the world. He suffer and it don't seem to put him back at all. He got a sweet look. He going to last. He wear a little patch quilt and peep out holding his mouth open like a little bird. . . . I could tell him from all the others in creation'" (98). Welty uses indirect characterization to show the strong feelings Phoenix has for her grandson. She feels sympathy for his suffering. Phoenix is drawn to the way he maintains a "'sweet'" look despite the pain he endures because the lye burned his throat. She emphasizes her love for him when she says that she knows him better than all "'others in creation.'" Her actions reveal her love for the grandson when she
Joshua Bowen
English 1123
7 February 2017 A Worn Path
“A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is a story of determination and hope. The short story takes place during the 1940’s in Mississippi. This was a time when African Americans were not treated equal to whites. Welty’s story talks about an elderly African American woman named Phoenix. Phoenix is on a burdensome journey from the country to Jackson, Mississippi. For many people, the journey from the country to the city would not be so difficult, but Phoenix is elderly and racism is still at large. Phoenix had one task to complete and that was making sure that her sick grandson got his medicine. If it was not for determination, devotion, and love she would not have …show more content…
Oak trees, pine trees, sweet gum trees, and dead trees. The trees could have different meanings. Some of the meanings are endurance, strength, wisdom and life. She also encounters different types of birds. The mourning dove symbolizes grief, and the buzzard which represents death. The lye poisoning represents a lack. Phoenix and her grandson had lack of medical care, education, financial resources, and transportation. Lye poison was common among the poor in rural Mississippi. The symptoms of Lye poisoning would cause people to lose their voice, experience starvation, dehydration, and make swallowing very difficult. Conclusively, Lye poisoning represents the lost voice of the indigent and poor through starvation and lack of important …show more content…
These employees were looking for praise for what they could give. They only do this because they know it’s her heart desire to bring her grandson comfort and joy. True charity and love are the motive, not self- praise. Phoenix represents ideal goodness and true courage. Another trait that fuels her determination and will is compassion. She feels great compassion for her grandson and without this feeling of love, she probably would not have had the determination and will necessary to get the medicine. She even says that the grandson is the reason why she "'made [her] long trip'" (98). Even though Phoenix temporarily forgets why she made the trip, once she remembers, her sympathy for her grandson shines through: "'We is the only two left in the world. He suffer and it don't seem to put him back at all. He got a sweet look. He going to last. He wear a little patch quilt and peep out holding his mouth open like a little bird. . . . I could tell him from all the others in creation'" (98). Welty uses indirect characterization to show the strong feelings Phoenix has for her grandson. She feels sympathy for his suffering. Phoenix is drawn to the way he maintains a "'sweet'" look despite the pain he endures because the lye burned his throat. She emphasizes her love for him when she says that she knows him better than all "'others in creation.'" Her actions reveal her love for the grandson when she