A Worn Paths Essay, Research Paper
A Worn Path
“A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, is the tale of the unstoppable love and care
of a grandmother for her grandchild. It tells a story of sheer determination
as Phoenix Jackson makes a long journey into town to get medicine for her
chronically ill grandson. She strives forward despite frequent obstacles in
her way that include her own failing health and the grandchild’s slim chance
of survival. Phoenix Jackson is “an old Negro woman” who continues forward
over barriers that would not even be considered a hindrance for the young.
This is a journey which she has taken before, and now “the time come around”
she must travel it again. She begins her journey to town on “a bright frozen
day in the early morning” in December. Phoenix Jackson is “very old and
small “, and walks like the “pendulum in a grandfather clock” ever so
carefully with her “thin, small cane made from an umbrella.”
The description of Phoenix Jackson at the beginning of this story gives the
reader a glimpse of how difficult this trip is going to be for an elderly
woman such as her. The description “Her eyes were blue with age. Her skin
has a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles” are indications
of Phoenix Jackson’s old age. She supports herself with a cane, striving not
to fall with every step she takes. She wears a “dress reaching down to her
shoe tops” along with “an equally long apron of bleached sugar sacks, with a
full pocket.” This just adds to her difficulties.
As she begins her journey, she talks to herself and warns “Out of my way,
all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals!…Keep
out from under these feet, little bob-whites”, because as she says, “I got a
long way.” She is determined to go down that path despite anything that
might come between her and getting the medicine for her grandson. This shows
that her body may be worn out, but the attitude that she takes and desire
that she has in order to get the medicine for her grandson are not. In
addition, her shoelaces “which dragged from her unlaced shoes” adds to the
chance of her falling on the path.
First, she has to face an uphill climb. Then, she goes downhill but soon
finds herself tangled with a bush, and she does not want to rip her dress.
She talks to the bush stating “Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never
want to let folks pass, no sir. Old eyes thought you was a pretty little
green bush” However, she manages to free herself from the thorn bush. In
addition, she faces a barbed-wire fence, which is not easy for anyone, but
she gets through, again telling herself that “she could not pay for having
her arm or her leg sawed off.” At one point, she is startled by a stray dog
and falls into a ditch.
Eventually, a hunter and his dog happen upon her and pull her out of the
ditch. He also tries to prevent her from finishing her journey. He tells her
that she is too old, and even tries to scare her with his gun. At that point
the man says, “you must be a hundred years old, and scared of nothing…you
take my advice and stay home, and nothing will happen to you.” Not even
these words from the hunter could make Phoenix give up, always getting
herself out of a predicament, and having her grandson as a reason to keep
going.
Walking across a log with her eyes closed is another daring thing she
attempts. After safely crossing she says “I wasn’t as old as I thought.” She
sits down to rest “when a little boy brought her a plate with a slice of
marble-cake on it.” When old Phoenix reaches “to take it there was just her
own hand in the air,” and nothing else around. Throughout the story, she
exhibits signs of senility and delusions including her meeting of a
scarecrow which she initially thinks is a man.
When Phoenix reaches her destination, the reason for her mission is given.
When she enters “the big building”, evidently a medical facility, she
doesn’t speak and appears disoriented. A nurse recognizes her and inquires
about her grandson who swallowed lye two to three years ago. She asks “He
isn’t dead, is he?” Phoenix responds with, “No missy, he not dead, he just
the same.” She tells the nurse “he not able to swallow. He not get his
breath. So the time come around, and I go on another trip for the soothing
medicine.”
Phoenix Jackson encounters many adversities along her journey, but somehow
manages to get through them. Her perseverance in the face of tremendous
obstacles is admirable considering her age and declining health. This story
reminds the reader over