FREE ESSAY ON A WORN PATH

A WORN PATH

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 made of an old umbrella to aid her. Her skin is described as
old and wrinkly, but yet with a golden color running beneath it "Her skin had a pattern
all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in
the middle of her forehead, but a golden color ran underneath"(55). Her skin tone
represents the golden feathers of the Phoenix and her grandson represents the next
Phoenix that will be given life when she dies. The trip to the city to get the medicine
represents the mythological trip that the Phoenix takes to the sun to die. Most likely
this journey along a worn path through the woods, will be one of her last.
We are told of Phoenix's journey into the woods on a cold December morning. Although we
are know that she is traveling through woodland, the author refrains from telling us the
reason for this journey. In the midst of Phoenix's travels, Eudora Welty describes the
scene: "Deep, deep the road went down between the high green-colored banks. Overhead the
live-oaks met, and it was as dark as a cave" (Welty 55). The gloomy darkness that the
author has created to surround Phoenix in this scene is quite a contrast to the small
Negro woman's positive outlook; Phoenix is a very determined person who is full of life.
As Phoenix begins to walk down the dark path, a black dog approaches her from a patch of
weeds near a ditch. As he comes toward her, Phoenix is startled and compelled to defend
herself: "she only hit him a little with her cane. Over she went in the ditch, like a
little puff of milk-weed" (55). Here, the author contrasts the main character's strong
will with her small, frail physique. 
As Phoenix is lying in the ditch, "A dream visited her, and she reached her hand up, but
nothing reached down and gave her a pull." (55). Phoenix may be reaching for divine
intervention but receives no such assistance. She then begins to talk to herself, which
she does quite frequently throughout her journey. Eudora is trying to show the reader
just how lonely and frightened Phoenix has become. While she lay in the ditch talking to
herself, Phoenix refers to herself as "old woman." At a number of points throughout the
story, Phoenix refers to herself as old. Although we are reminded regularly of her old
age, it is clear that Phoenix still has many years ahead of her. The author brings
realism into the story by frequently describing the realities of old age. 
After a short while, Phoenix is rescued: "A white man finally came along and found her-a
hunter, a young man with his dog on a chain" (56). When the white man approaches her,
Phoenix is still laying on her back in the ditch. When Welty tells the reader that the
white man has "found" her, she is implying that Phoenix is lost, but she very clearly is
not. The white man asks Phoenix what she is doing in the ditch, and she replies "Lying on
my back like a June-bug waiting to be turned over, mister" (56) as she reaches out her
hand. When Phoenix refers to herself as June-bug on its back, she is letting the hunter
know how helpless she is. The hunter then lifts her up and makes sure she is okay. 
The hunter and Phoenix begin to chat and the hunter asks her if she is on her way home.
When Phoenix replies that she is on her way to town, the hunter discourages her by
telling her that it is too far. He also tells her that when he makes the journey into
town, he at least would "get something for my trouble" (56). The hunter automatically
assumes that Phoenix has no reason for going into town, and no money to purchase anything
once she arrives in town. Phoenix shows her determination by telling the hunter "I bound
to go to town, mister, the time has come around" (56). When she tells him that the time
has come around, the reader now knows that there is a reason for her journey into town.
The hunter then tells Phoenix that he assumes she must be going into town to see Santa
Claus. Phoenix is very still after the hunter has made this comment. Welty describes
Phoenix's face: "The deep lines in her face went into a fierce and different radiation"
(56). The reader then assumes that Phoenix is very upset by this statement. Not until you
have read on do you find the true reason for Phoenix's reaction. "Without warning she had
seen with her own eyes a flashing nickel fall out of the man's pocket onto the ground. 
The hunter and Phoenix continue their conversation when the dogs begin to fight. As the
hunter chases after the dogs, Phoenix slowly begins to reach down towards the shiny
nickel. When the nickel is finally in her apron pocket, she sees a bird fly by and says
to herself "God watching me the whole time. I come to stealing." When Phoenix says this,
it shows the reader that she really is a good person, and that she does have a
conscience. 
The man returns and points his gun at Phoenix. Immediately the reader assumes that the
hunter has seen Phoenix stealing his nickel, though Welty never states whether the hunter
saw Phoenix pick up the nickel or not. The hunter asks Phoenix if the gun scares her, she
replies "No, sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I
done" (57). It is evident that whether or not the hunter did see her take the money,
Phoenix thinks he did. The hunter then smiles, puts the gun away and says, "you must be a
hundred years old and scared of nothing. I'd give you a dime if I had any money with me.
But you take my advice and stay home, and nothing will happen to you" (57). I believe
that this line represents a change that has occurred within the hunters mind. He no
longer is trying to prevent her from her journey, while he still tells her to stay home,
he know she is bound to go on. After there meeting he realizes how strong her will is and
lets her go on her way. "I bound to go on my way, mister" (57) Phoenix tells the man, and
they go off in different directions.
Strength is the only reason Phoenix accomplished her journey and Phoenix's love for her
only living relative is her greatest strength of all. Although the old Negro woman
suffers from many handicaps, she starts her journey mentally prepared for the obstacles
awaiting her. Phoenix uses her inner strengths and prevails over every barrier. She
relies on her trustworthy feet to make up for her impaired vision. Her wit makes up for
her frail body. Her determination makes up for her aged memory. But most of all, her love
for her grandson her keeps her going. Clearly, the frail, forgetful, and loving old woman
can overcome anything.