A Worn Path
Eudora Welty's short story A Worn Path is an interesting, the story full of symbolism. It explores some themes through the simple story of an elderly black woman in 1940s Mississippi, walking along an arduous path to town to collect medicine for her grandson. Along the way, she encounters various obstacles and interactions with others.
The main character is Phoenix Jackson, and her journey is to get medicine for her sick grandson. The main plot of the story concerns her journey the worn path and the events that happen on her journey. In Welty short story she is straight forward, she never uses distractions to tell the story. She made "a worn path" entirely up to the reader to work out what each encounter symbolizes to get the reader thinking. …show more content…
Jackson experiences dreams along with her way; first, she imagines that she sees a slice of cake, "She did not dare to close her eyes, and when a little boy brought her a plate with a slice of marble-cake on it she spoke to him. "That would be acceptable." she said. then later, she fell in a ditch before the hunter arrives, she sees someone come to help her. Both times she reaches out her hand, and there is nothing there. It seems like because of her age she images things that are not there. She goes through a “old cotton field” and sees something tall, black, and skinny there, moving before her.” She believes that is "[Her] me senses is gone. I too old. I the oldest people I ever know. Dance, old scarecrow," she said, "while I dancing with you.", but really it’s a scarecrow. She blames this due to her old age, "My senses is gone. I too old. I the oldest people I ever know. Dance, old scarecrow," she said. This shows that they are all connected because she forgets and her vision misleads her as well.
Christian symbolism is also apparent in the narrative. For example, the fact that the story is set during the Christmas season, "In the paved city it was Christmas time. There were red and green electric lights strung and crisscrossed everywhere..." has led some critics to associate Phoenix's journey with that of a religious pilgrimage; her selfless concern for her grandson is interpreted as representing the true
The main character is Phoenix Jackson, and her journey is to get medicine for her sick grandson. The main plot of the story concerns her journey the worn path and the events that happen on her journey. In Welty short story she is straight forward, she never uses distractions to tell the story. She made "a worn path" entirely up to the reader to work out what each encounter symbolizes to get the reader thinking. …show more content…
Jackson experiences dreams along with her way; first, she imagines that she sees a slice of cake, "She did not dare to close her eyes, and when a little boy brought her a plate with a slice of marble-cake on it she spoke to him. "That would be acceptable." she said. then later, she fell in a ditch before the hunter arrives, she sees someone come to help her. Both times she reaches out her hand, and there is nothing there. It seems like because of her age she images things that are not there. She goes through a “old cotton field” and sees something tall, black, and skinny there, moving before her.” She believes that is "[Her] me senses is gone. I too old. I the oldest people I ever know. Dance, old scarecrow," she said, "while I dancing with you.", but really it’s a scarecrow. She blames this due to her old age, "My senses is gone. I too old. I the oldest people I ever know. Dance, old scarecrow," she said. This shows that they are all connected because she forgets and her vision misleads her as well.
Christian symbolism is also apparent in the narrative. For example, the fact that the story is set during the Christmas season, "In the paved city it was Christmas time. There were red and green electric lights strung and crisscrossed everywhere..." has led some critics to associate Phoenix's journey with that of a religious pilgrimage; her selfless concern for her grandson is interpreted as representing the true