Essay on A Worn Path
A Worn Path Term Papers
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Phoenix Jackson’s Symbolic Journey
Everyday people encounter obstacles that stand in the way of their goals. Phoenix, in “A Worn Path”, by Eudora Welty, has a mission to accomplish, but many things stand in her way. When she finally makes it, she has conquered her goal for that day. She also has a long-term goal, which is to make her grandson happy and well. Her walk to town on the path symbolizes her entire life, and the lives of everyone else. Everyone sets goals for themselves, but in the way of completing those goals, stand obstacles. When people realize your dream and overcome those obstacles, they triumph. Phoenix, on this journey, has many dreams, obstacles, and triumphs.
Foremost, Phoenix Jackson has many dreams throughout the course of her journey. The gold seal she sees is symbolic of her most important dream, and represents all people’s goals. It is attached to a document on the doctor’s door, which she sees after climbing the long flight of stairs. “She entered a door, and there she saw nailed up on the wall the document that had been stamped with the gold seal and framed in the gold frame, which matched the dream hung up in her head” (638). The gold seal and frame not only represent her goal, but also show she is at the end of her rigorous journey. “The dream hung up in her head” is to get the medicine needed for her grandson’s health. In the bigger picture, people sacrifice many things each day for their loved ones and are driven by that love. In addition, getting the medicine was ultimately for her grandson’s happiness. The fact that they have no one left but each other drives her to make him happy no matter the circumstances. In this excerpt, Phoenix receives a nickel as charity from the nurse and she responds, “ I going to the store and buy my child a little windmill they sells. Made out of paper. He going to find it hard to believe there such a thing in the world. I’ll march myself back where he waiting, holding it straight up in this hand” (639). This excerpt shows her affection toward her grandson. Instead of buying food or something to drink for herself after such an arduous journey, she buys him a present. Love is obvious when someone puts other people’s needs before their own. Sacrifice due to love is not only evident in this story, but in everyday life.
Furthermore, along her journey and on the road to fulfilling her dreams, Phoenix faces many obstacles. The most manifest one is the hunter. He is extremely cruel to her because of her race, sex, and age. In one of his first lines of speech, he leaves no doubt that he despises blacks. “He gave another laugh, filling the whole landscape. `I know you old colored people! Wouldn’t miss going to town to see Santa Claus!’” (637). He infantilizes Phoenix and thinks she is making the trip for no reason. Since he jumps to that conclusion, he tells her many times to go back home. He does not give this advice to be helpful but instead to show that since he is white, he has authority over her. When she does not listen, he gets mad and points a gun in her face. At this point, there is no doubt that he is racist. This incident is a demonstration of the way things were for all black people in Mississippi right after the Civil War in the late 1930’s. She handles this adversity in an ideal fashion. She does not get mad or shy away, but instead confronts him and stands strong. Here, he tells her to go home and she responds: “I bound to...
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