A Worn Path
In the story "A Worn Path" the author Eudora Welty, is able to exemplify the theme of people will do anything for the people they love by revealing the challenging journey the character, Phoenix, encounters while getting medicine for her grandson.
Phoenix Jackson is an elderly lady that makes a periodically journey into town to get medicine for her grandson. While going on the journey phoenix faces many obstacles. Throughout the journey she is determined to get to town. "Keep out from under these feet; little bob-whitesÂ…Keep the big wild hogs out of my path. Don't let none of those come running my direction. I got a long way." She walks with determination, even when things are trying to stop her. "Thorns, you're doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass." As Phoenix climbs up the tiresome hill that the path traverses, she notes that it "seems like there is chains on my feet, time I get this far", still she continues.
Another challenge phoenix must face is the racism she encounters. This is during the time when racism was active. After falling into a ditch a white hunter helps her out, but patronizes her and fails to appreciate her journey: "I know you old colored people! Wouldn't miss going to town to see Santa Claus!" He also taunts her by pointing his loaded gun at her and asking, "Doesn't the gun scare you?" Phoenix stands her ground," utterly still", revealing how she has disposed all fear in her. The importance of the journey exceeds the harm that could happen to her. Nothing will stand in her way to get to her destination for her grandson.
Nothing stood in phoenix's way while traveling to town. She faced many obstacles using her grandson as a reason to keep going. The obstacles throughout her journey are simply stones that could be easily stepped on.
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