A Worn Path Obstacles - 2213 Words

In the short stories A Worn Path by Eudora Welty and The Jilting of Granny Weatherall by Katherine Anne Porter, both women overcame several obstacles. In A Worn Path Phoenix Jackson faced obstacles such as her old age, physical challenges, and how others viewed her. Granny faced obstacles such as dying, feeling betrayed from her children, and disappointment in her love life. In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty an elderly African American woman named Phoenix Jackson picks a cold December day to make yet another perilous journey to a near by city to get medicine for her ailing grandson. On the way this old woman faces many obstacles, both natural and man-made. Phoenix draws upon her perseverance and willingness to sacrifice herself to†¦show more content†¦The greatest example of this comes at the end of the story, when Phoenix has reached the doctors office. At this point Phoenix has been challenged physically, emotionally and physiologically and she is worn out. She is on the b rink of collapse when she reaches the doctors office and the only thought that fills her mind is that she has made it. So, when the attendant in the doctors office asks her why she has come, Phoenix completely blanks out. She has been pushing herself so hard for so long that she no longer remembers why she must get to the city, but only that she must somehow make her way to the doctors office. Even when a nurse, who knows Phoenix, comes in and reminds her of her grandson, Phoenix doesnt remember. Only when the nurse cold-heartedly says, he isnt dead is he? does Phoenix remember. The story ends with Phoenix going out to a store to buy her grandson a toy with the money that she has acquired during the journey. She doesnt even think for a second to go and buy herself something to eat something to sustain her on the long and cold walk home. Her love and devotion support her and give her an endless source of almost supernatural strength. The strength that she radiates toward her grandson, the strength that nourishes his life. The Jilting of Granny Weatherall describes the last thoughts, feelings, and memories of an elderlyShow MoreRelatedThe Physical, Social and Mental Obstacles in Eudora Weltys A Worn Path657 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty is a short story in which fulfills all aspects of literary connotations. Phoenix Jackson’s only true motivation to keep living was to help keep her young grandson live. While there are a multitude of literary elements and devices splurged throughout the story, some of the first ones to s pot make the biggest impact. Phoenix Jackson’s name is revealed in the first three lines of text, and leads the reader to make an immediate assumption. She makes this trek over and overRead MoreA Worn Path1096 Words   |  5 Pageswe take when we encounter obstacles. Life is an obstacle course in which we have to overcome in our lifetimes. In A Worn Path an older woman by the name of Phoenix Jackson takes a long road full of hardships to achieve a goal, which is to get medicine for her grandson. Not only does Phoenix of A Worn Path represent struggle but how we overcome this struggle to achieve a sense of achievement or a goal. Throughout time, people have been going through life’s obstacles and their willingness to pursueRead More The Hero Sojourner In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty Essay883 Words   |  4 PagesThe Hero Sojourner in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty In A Worn Path by: Eudora Welty, the main character emulates the necessary nuts and bolts of the archetypal journey as its hero; answers a call to an adventure, has to go through trials of fear, and ending with the retrieval of two prizes. Eudora Weltys short story A Worn Path takes place on a bright, frozen day in December. Representing a struggle, but most of all represents determination. Her name is Phoenix Jackson. This story is about sacrificeRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of A Worn Path1221 Words   |  5 PagesOvercoming Obstacles: A Literary Analysis of â€Å"A Worn Path† Thesis: â€Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty is one of the best short stories to incorporate different symbolic representations of determination and the will to live. I. Introduction II. Phoenix A. Definition B. Characteristics III. Natural symbolism A. Steep hill B. Thorns of bush IV. Perceived Racism A. Imagined cake B. White hunter V. Arrival in Natchez A. Nurses’ comments BRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of A Worn Path By Eudora Welty )945 Words   |  4 PagesJourney of Thanks (Literary analysis of A Worn Path by Eudora Welty) How far should one travel to another if they know the will not be thanked for their actions? Eudora Welty, a lady that wrote in a male dominated world, wrote the story A Worn Path, which is consider one of the greatest works of the twentieth century. A Worn Path is about Phoenix Jackson an older woman that goes on a journey through the forest to get to a hospital in another town becauseRead MoreEssay on Theme of Determination in A Worn Path 637 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"A Worn Path† is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is based on an elderly African-American grandmother named Phoenix Jackson, who goes for a walk to the town of Natchez on a cold December morning to get some medicine for her ailing grandson. This story speaks of the obstacles Phoenix endured along the way and how she overcame them. The theme, central idea or message that the author wishes to convey to his or her readers, in â€Å"A Worn Path† is one of determination. Phoenix Jackson is determinedRead MoreA Worn Path874 Words   |  4 PagesA Worn Path A Worn Path by Eudora Welty is a short story about an elderly women- Phoenix Jackson and who is taking a long journey though the woods into town to acquire medicine for her sick grandson. On her way she encounters many obstacles such as the thorns in which her dress got caught in, barbed wire, a scarecrow, a large dog, a hunter and the lady, which ties her shoes. All of these obstacles among her dementia and hallucinations, which are implied throughout the story, delay her from reachingRead MoreA Worn Path: Struggle For Racial Equality Essay1522 Words   |  7 PagesA Worn Path: Struggle for Racial Equality In A Worn Path, a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a worn path through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics haveRead MoreEssay about A Worn Path by Eudora Welty 21212 Words   |  5 PagesA Worn Path In the story by Eudora Welty, â€Å"The Worn Path† Phoenix Jackson is a complex character who defies a stereotype in a symbolic way. Weltys story describe Phoenix as the o;d lady who had to travel miles a day in order to prove to the other characters that her grandson was not dead. Having to prove that her grandson was not dead Phoenix had three traits of characteristics. She was loving, determined, and persistent. These traits help her to overcome being stereotyped and ultimately herRead MoreA Worn Path by Phoenix Jackson1085 Words   |  5 PagesFebruary 14, 2009 The Character of Phoenix Jackson in â€Å"A Worn Path† The protagonist of Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path† is Phoenix Jackson, an old, weak, and poverty-stricken who describes her journey from her home to the city to get medicine for her sick grandson. This story is told from a third-person limited omniscient point of view. The narrator sees all, hears all, but only from the point of view of a single character, which allows readers to understand Phoenix. The story focuses on the determination