Conflict in Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path"
In Eudora Welty 's "A Worn Path" the conflict was not apparent at the
very beginning. What was a poor, elderly sick woman doing gallivanting
in the forest during the dead of winter? The reason became clear towards
the conclusion of the story as the action revealed that the conflict was
obtaining the necessary medicine for her grandson. When this conflict
became obvious, another question came to mind. What kind of society did
this woman live in that she had to go all the way from her home in the
countryside to the city by herself to get the medicine? The conflict
being illustrated is that of an individual versus society and the four
problems that Phoenix faces as a result of this was her old age, her
health, her grandson 's health and her state of poverty.
"Her eyes were blue with age. Her skin had a pattern all its own of
numberless branching wrinkles " (paragraph 2).
This quotation was one of many indications of Phoenix Jackson 's old
age. Normally, in society there are benefits for the elderly and those
of the golden age. There are various organizations that help people who
are over the age of sixty-five. They also provide various services
towards them such as meals on wheels. Was there not someone who could
have delivered the medicine to this woman of nearly 100 years of age?
Perhaps Phoenix Jackson was too shy or had too much pride to ask for a
service of that nature. The doctors from the medical building knew about
the condition of Phoenix 's grandson and did nothing to try and help.
This showed the lack of respect that was present in the society. In
today 's society, someone of that age commands and deserves the proper
respect.
"She carried a thin, small cane made from an umbrella, and with this she
kept tapping the frozen earth in front of her," (paragraph 1).
The next conflict that plagued her is that of her health. In the
preceding quotation, there was one important note that readers should
take into
very beginning. What was a poor, elderly sick woman doing gallivanting
in the forest during the dead of winter? The reason became clear towards
the conclusion of the story as the action revealed that the conflict was
obtaining the necessary medicine for her grandson. When this conflict
became obvious, another question came to mind. What kind of society did
this woman live in that she had to go all the way from her home in the
countryside to the city by herself to get the medicine? The conflict
being illustrated is that of an individual versus society and the four
problems that Phoenix faces as a result of this was her old age, her
health, her grandson 's health and her state of poverty.
"Her eyes were blue with age. Her skin had a pattern all its own of
numberless branching wrinkles " (paragraph 2).
This quotation was one of many indications of Phoenix Jackson 's old
age. Normally, in society there are benefits for the elderly and those
of the golden age. There are various organizations that help people who
are over the age of sixty-five. They also provide various services
towards them such as meals on wheels. Was there not someone who could
have delivered the medicine to this woman of nearly 100 years of age?
Perhaps Phoenix Jackson was too shy or had too much pride to ask for a
service of that nature. The doctors from the medical building knew about
the condition of Phoenix 's grandson and did nothing to try and help.
This showed the lack of respect that was present in the society. In
today 's society, someone of that age commands and deserves the proper
respect.
"She carried a thin, small cane made from an umbrella, and with this she
kept tapping the frozen earth in front of her," (paragraph 1).
The next conflict that plagued her is that of her health. In the
preceding quotation, there was one important note that readers should
take into
Cited: Welty, Eudora. "A Worn Path." Writing About Literature. Brief Eighth Edition. Edgar V Roberts Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1995. 196-201.