Sometimes the most miniscule objects in a story can symbolize for something greater. Anything, from a character’s name to a single piece of money can symbolize something much bigger than what it really seems. Eudora Welty uses this kind of symbolism in her story “The Worn Path. The story uses symbolism not only to show Phoenix Jackson’s determination, but also to highlight how the social and political differences are used against her.
The fist piece of symbolism that Welty gives to the reader is the main character’s name, Phoenix Jackson. According to Greek mythology, the Phoenix is a bird that lived for 500 years, burned itself to death, and arose again from the ashes. Phoenix Jackson is in some way the Phoenix, as during her travel, she stumbles
…show more content…
Eudora Welty wrote this story in 1941, a time in America where although African Americans were free, they were still treated as a lesser race by the whites. Phoenix tells the hunter that she is headed to town because “the time come around.” (290) The hunter replies, “I know you old colored people! Wouldn’t miss going to town to see Santa Claus!” The white hunter is making a stereotype that colored people go to town during winter to see Santa Claus, when in fact the nature of Phoenix’s travel is different. Lastly, before they part ways, the hunter points his gun directly at Phoenix, and asks if the gun does not scare her. She responds, “No sir. I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done.” Since Welty describes Phoenix as being very old, then it is safe to assume that Phoenix lived during a time where black oppression was at its highest. Therefore, since she has through a lot during her days, then having a gun pointed at her does not seem to impact her in any way.
The obstacles that Phoenix comes during the path are representations of her determination, as she is able to overcome them. However, that same path can also symbolize social differences, along with the nickel and the presents. On the other hand, the hunter himself can symbolize how political differences, such as the oppression of the African Americans, work against
People in the story seem to have a reverence for the Phoenix which is shown when a white woman stops to help her tie her shoe which would be highly unlikely in the south at the time. Another incident is when the women at the drugstore in town gives her money for no reason.
One main obstacle that stood out in the text was when she encountered the hunter and his dog. In this scene Phoenix was on the ground because she had fell and the hunter had showed up and helped her up. Once he had her standing on her own two feet he had began questioning her and telling her that she needs to go back home, but she ignored what he was saying. She knew the reason for making this long, enduring trip and she was not going to turn back now. He (the hunter) even went so far as to take his gun and point it directly in her face. This did not bother her nor even scare her. She just stood still and faced him because that was all she knew how to do. After this incident he still tried to
Also during Phoenix’s encounter with the hunter, the reader and Phoenix face the possibility of her death at the hands of the hunter. Yet, even as the hunter tries to exercise his racial superiority and intimidation over Phoenix, she again never hesitates. When the hunter points his gun into Phoenix’s face her response is simply, “...I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done.” The hunter even threatens, “But you take my advice and stay home, and nothing will happen to you.” Phoenix’s answer is simply an unflinching, “I bound to go on my way, mister.” Again Phoenix symbolises the bird as she refuses to give in to even the
Most people accomplish difficult tasks with support systems such as family or friends. Phoenix knows she is alone in the world to care for her grandson. This knowledge of solitude makes Phoenix’s mission all the more difficult. The incident with the white hunter along her travel also demonstrates Jackson’s determination. As stated by Dennis Sykes, “Phoenix realizes that the importance of the trip far exceeds the possible harm that can be done to her brittle frame”(151). Phoenix’s ability to stare down possible bodily harm all for the sake of her grandson’s wellbeing demonstrates her heroic determination. By overcoming adversity, Phoenix’s determined character is revealed very well.
Phoenix also symbolizes a mythical bird; she has “the regenerative qualities of the bird are seen in Phoenix’s determination each time she suffers a setback,” Like the bird how it gets reborn again Phoenix keeps on getting up from the challenges and keeps on going just like getting reborn again. That is why the author named the main character Phoenix because she is like the mythical bird the phoenix in many ways even the description of Phoenix gives symbolism of her being like the bird. Phoenix wears a red rag to tie her hair and running underneath her skin “a golden color” [welty1274]. The image of the bird is shown in Phoenix’s face “the two knobs of her cheeks were illuminated by a yellow burning under the dark” [Welty 1274]. Her golden tone skin represents the fiery golden red feathers the bird has.
In “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty uses setting, characterization, and tone to illustrate the progresses of Phoenix, in a physical and emotional sense. The author illustrates the progress of Phoenix’s social, physical, and emotional sense to describe changing times and social norms. This allows the reader to get a clear and vivid out reach of what they are going to read about phoenix journey.
Phoenix, on the other hand, was a selfish manipulative old woman who had an obsession with power. She was on a journey through the woods to the city, where she had many encounters. When Phoenix encounters the hunter she steals the money that falls out of his pockets. She always seems to want something for her troubles. However, later in the story while in the hospital, Phoenix has a totally different personality. She seems to have no guilt for the actions she makes.
In the short story ‘a worn path’ by Eudora Welty she uses symbolism to describe many of the characters and objects that are given in the short story. Symbolism is to use symbols to represent ideas and qualities. In ‘a worn path’ Eudora does so she uses manifolds of characters and objects to express the way the story is being told in her own way. As doing so she helps the reader understand it more sufficiently and to show that what is going on is still happening today.
Phoenix lived in a society where racism was still running strong. Yet she faced and dealt with that every day of her life. As an African-American slave, she would have toil in the fields, wondering if she would still be alive by the time the sun was setting. Phoenix is visible shaken with a run a scarecrow she believed to be a ghost. She says to image, "'Ghost,' she said sharply, 'who be you the ghost of? For I have heard of nary death close by” (Welty 24).Slave mothers would often show that same fear as they watched the shadows return from the field; wondering if their loved ones were still alive or was going to come home unharmed. Phoenix faced those same fears as a mother and grandmother. If Phoenix was caught in the
In the short story “A Worn Path” Edora Welty establishes that “A person’s actions portray their character” through the use of metaphors by comparing Phoenix to everyday objects in our life.
Phoenix Jackson in Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" has been compared to the mythological phoenix because of her birdlike qualities, and it's also been noticed that Phoenix possesses many of the same characteristics as Christ. But, what hasn't been addressed is the fact that Eudora Welty didn't just leave the symbolism to Christ alone. Welty also included many biblical allusions as well. Phoenix Jackson is not only symbolic of the mythological bird that rose from the ashes of its own demise or simply a Christ figure comparable to the Son of God, but she is also a biblical hero facing temptation and trials along her journey and succeeds unharmed and steadfast in her faith.
In the story “A Worn Path” uses a continuous number of literary techniques and there is an overflow of symbolism. In the story everything symbolizes an object symbolism is when an object in the story can relate to something. Symbolism is a literary technique that adds meaning to a story by using an event or object as a symbol to represent something else. Phoenix Jackson represents the most important thing in the story the ancient Egyptian bird the Phoenix. The story “A Worn Path” takes place in December 1941. It’s about an old lady named Phoenix Jackson that goes to town in Natchez, Mississippi to get some medicine for her grandson who had swallowed lye many years back. Phoenix faces some obstacles on her way to town that try to keep her
Thesis: “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is one of the best short stories to incorporate different
Everyday people encounter challenges that stand in their way of achieving their goals, but with sheer determination most accomplish their mission. In the short story “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson, the main character, has a mission to complete while confronting many challenges. One way to convey this idea is with the literary use of theme. The theme of a literary work is defined as the central idea, concern or message about life that an author wishes to convey to his/her readers. There can be more than one theme in a literary work. One of the major themes in Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path” is the sheer determination that Phoenix Jackson conveys via her actions. This short story centers on the
including the white hunter and black dog, Phoenix runs into in the story represent different individuals of all colors which present obstacles in a person such as Phoenix’s life. When the hunter comes along, the author describes him as white. She could have left his color out of the description, but she obviously felt it important to mention to her