Essay on Theme of Determination in "A Worn Path"

Eudora Welty’s short story, “A Worn Path,” details the journey of an old woman, Phoenix Jackson, going to town to retrieve medicine for her ill grandson. Her trek is filled with many difficulties that challenge her mental and physical state. Throughout the short story, Welty relays Jackson’s experiences through the use of allusion and symbolism. In applying these literary devices, Welty successfully shows how the hardships Jackson faced increased her will to persevere despite doubt from others, deprivation, and isolation. The title, “A Worn Path,” alludes to the central theme of the short story, perseverance. Jackson’s repeated walk to town and through life enables her to learn how to use her disadvantages in her favor.

Will-power and determination plays a major role when it comes to people accomplishing goals and performing the tasks they are given. When a person possesses these two qualities they are motivated, focused, will not give up easily, determined along with many other things. The word determination is defined as, “the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose.” Will-power is, “the strength or will to carry out one’s decisions, wishes, or plans.” In the short story A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, the main character Phoenix carried out the meaning of these two words throughout the whole story. She had experienced many road blocks during her journey, but she did not let them stop her from reaching

On an everyday basis people are encountering challenges that stand in their way of them achieving their set goals. However, with determination the vast majority will accomplish the mission they have set out to conquer. In the short story “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty in 1940, Phoenix Jackson, the main character has a mission in which she is trying to complete when she is faced with many challenges. This short story is centered on the challenges that are faced by an elderly African-American grandmother as she continues on her long journey from the secluded pinewoods into the town nearby of Natchez. She has one intention in mind when she begins, to get a medicine for her chronically ill grandson no matter what the challenges are that she encounters. The one way to convey this idea to the readers is with the literary use of theme. Some of the major themes in Eudora Welty’s short story is the determination that Jackson conveys with her actions, the aspect of agism, and racism. The most important theme in this story is the emotional and spiritual strength of Jackson which enables her to continue her journey.

Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path' is a story that emphasizes the natural symbolism of the surroundings. As the story begins, we are introduced to our main character, Phoenix Jackson; she is described as a small, old Negro woman. I believe that the name Eudora Welty gives our main character is very symbolic. The legend of the Phoenix is about a fabled sacred bird of ancient Egyptians. The bird is said to come out of Arabia every 500 years to Heliopolis, where it burned itself on the altar and rose again from its ashes, young and beautiful. Phoenix, the women in the story, represents the myth of the bird because she is described as being elderly and near the end of her life. Phoenix can hardly walk and uses a cane

In Eudora Welty ‘A Worn Path’ is a short story where symbols are found everywhere throughout many places where you read. This short story is about an old woman named Phoenix Jackson whom was a black African American that was compared to a mythical Arabian bird, and actually that bird lived up to five centuries in desserts and after living those five centuries it would burn up; and then from those same ashes it would then be reborn and it would start from the

Phoenix’s very name, which is derived from the name of the mythical Egyptian bird that is burned and resurrected from its own ashes, is the reader’s first hint at the character’s perseverance. Secondly, Phoenix is making this long, cold, difficult journey on foot, which is yet further testament to her determination. She is depicted as having “ skin [with]...a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead,” and these connections between Phoenix and trees, which often represent endurance in nature, paint a vivid picture of the woman’s strength (Welty). Perseverance is even more so revealed when Phoenix is faced with the challenge of crossing a creek on a log, to which she says, ““Now comes the trial,”” and “leveling her cane fiercely before her like a festival figure in some parade, she began to march across” (Welty). After she has completed this feat, she remarks, almost proudly and with satisfaction, “'I wasn't

The social obstacles she faces do not make up a great part of the story, but is the one factor that dominates her trip. Phoenix encounters the white hunter on her way to Natchez. Her age and race lead the young white man to mock her, but have a certain sympathy for her. He realizes she is adamant on achieving her goal to go into town, and passes by her at the realization. While in town she is subject to the direct ridicule of the secretary in the pharmacy. The racial barriers present in this time period makes Phoenix’s ordeal even that much harder. She lives in extreme poverty, but does what she must in order to survive. The receptionist realizes that Phoenix is both illiterate and nearly blind, but instead of aiding her she scolds her for not speaking and stating her reason for being in the building.

There is more than just the force of nature in her way. People, ghosts, and her own imagination attempt to keep her from going to town. After being knocked down by a dog in the forest, Phoenix is assisted by a hunter. He seems to be friendly at first but the hunter is actually not kind to Phoenix. Not only does he send his dog to attack Phoenix Jackson but he also puts a gun to her head. With a gun at her head, the old woman did not flinch because she was not scared or worried. Phoenix Jackson knew that the man could not shoot her because it was against human nature. This act shows Phoenix Jackson’s character, it displays her boldness clearly for the reader. The young man insisted that the trail was not made for old Phoenix Jackson and told her to just go home but she was not giving to give in when she was so close. When brought to a corn field, Phoenix is scared of the “ghost” that is there; but once she's closer, she realizes it's only a scarecrow. Phoenix’s own imagination is the one to blame here for trying to send Phoenix home. The old grandma would drift off in a daydream and have to capture her attention to keep going. The author uses all of these distractions to show how truly difficult this journey was and the dedication displayed by Ms. Jackson.

We all have someone that takes care of us and, would do anything to see us do well and be happy. In the short story A Worn Path this young child made a poor decision, which put his very life a risk. His Grandma named Phoenix would not see this happen. So despite her age and her lack of capability to do things that required physical exertion, she set out on a long trek to the nearest hospital to find her Grandson, who she loved very much, medicine. We can learn a lot of things from this fearless Grandmother, how she carried herself, and respond to the trials she came across. We can also learn a lesson from how the Grandson reacted to the courageous acts of his Grandmother. There are three important messages that the reader can derive from the short story A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, we are all going to travel paths in life and we need to stick to them and not fall off, people need to learn to express their thankfulness to those who sacrifices for them, we also need to learn to be more accepting and nicer to others.

During one of her challenges, Phoenix’s 5.brazenness is displayed when she faces a 6.haughty hunter. According to the narrator, “’Well, I scared him off that time,’ he said, and then he laughed and lifted his gun and pointed it at Phoenix. She stood straight and faced him. ‘Doesn't the gun scare you?’ he said, still pointing it. ‘No, sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done,’ she said, holding utterly still. He smiled, and shouldered the gun. ‘Well, Granny,’ he said, ‘you must be a hundred years old, and scared of nothing.’” (Welty 854). Her courageous attitude appears when she boldly stands up for herself and does not back down (Adv. 3). During this time, Phoenix is ridiculed in different ways by whites that seem detrimental and rude. In one section of the text, “’Speak up, Grandma,’ the woman said. ‘What's your name? We must have your history, you know. Have you been here before? What seems to be the trouble with you?’ Old Phoenix only gave a twitch to her face as if a fly were bothering her. ‘Are you deaf?’ cried the attendant” (Welty 855). Phoenix 7.apathetically takes the comment from the woman who called her 8.archaic, but does not retaliate; this proves that she is not temperamental, but patient (Adj. Phrase 2). Phoenix’s selflessness appears as she takes the journey for the grandson. In the story, “’She doesn't come for herself—she has a little grandson. She makes these trips just as regular as clockwork’” (Welty 855). This reveals that she would risk her well-being for him, thus taking the rough journey frequently. These developments indicated in Phoenix Jackson’s character all came from the same source: her determination to help and the love for her

With this statement, the author clearly depicts Phoenix’s determination to continue down this path despite the challenges of the wild animals. She is determined not to let anything come between her and getting to town for her grandson’s medication. Phoenix may be old and worn, but her determination motivates her to continue.

At it’s heart this story is about love and perseverance, Phoenix’s determination throughout the story is out of love for her grandson as we learn at the end. “We is the only two left in the world” she’s the only family he has and vice versa. “So the time come around, and I go on another trip for the soothing medicine" it’s the story of an old woman who

In the story of Phoenix Jackson, an old woman whose great courage on and overcoming great obstacles is brought to life in the short story from “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty. Now some of Phoenix’s most compelling evidence of perseverance comes from the path she has chosen to take and having the willpower to never give. Old age is not always the end of the road, but the journey it takes to get to that age is worth living for.

We face challenges throughout our everyday life. Some challenges may be simple, some may be difficult, and some we may have faced before. Phoenix Jackson is no different. With sheer determination and an unconditional love for her grandson, she accomplished her mission. There are several instances in the story, where Jackson gives off “bird-like” qualities. When she is crossing the creek and she closes her eyes to cross it. It was almost like she could sense where she was going without using her eyesight. Like birds, they travel north every winter, they go the same path to get to their destination and they know exactly where they are going. Jackson is a very determined and caring character. The story shows how this

The young white hunter assisted her out of a ditch only to belittle her and put a gun in her face (Welty). This shows great courage to endure this encounter that must have been something Phoenix had endured and witnessed her entire life. Hard work was a way of life, much like Dr. Jackson that worked tirelessly to find a cure to save the young children who had swallowed lye, it made her strong enough to face this encounter (Stang). In addition, it was hard work and agility to walk along a log to cross a creek with her eyes closed, the wisdom to shimmy under barbed wire fences without getting hung up, the endurance to go up and down hills and through hollers, and the devotion to make the trip to the Doctors office and back (Welty). Although, in her nineties Phoenix was strong and very capable to walk that worn path and do it with the dignity of a grandmother that cares about her grandson.