annon”A Worn Path,” written by Eudora Welty concerns the life of an elderly woman,Phoenix Jackson, and her enduring love for her chronically ill grandson. Herenduring love for her young grandson is what keeps her going. Her life is onefull of amazement. She is frail, old, and encounters many struggles. Thoughshe manages to overcome all the trials, along with her brief lapses ofmentally wondering. When she comes to her senses she realizes that she needsto be on her way and quickly moves on.
Amazingly, old Phoenix can go about her journey nearly without her sight. Shedepends solely on the steps of her feet for direction. She knows well enoughto change her habits and pull herself together upon entering the big city. She is always polite and courteous to all the town’s people.
For a woman ofher age, she manages to pull herself through all the tangles she gets herselfinto. She keeps her faith, by enduring to the end. She is a survivor throughthe love she has for her grandson. Old Phoenix Lets nothing tragic faze her. Nothing frightens Phoenix, not even a scarecrow in the dark of the woods. Walking across a log with her eyes closed are some of the daring things shedoes.
A hunter along the way approaches her and tries to use his gun toundermine her. He is impolite to her by referring to her as granny. Thehunter unknowingly looses a nickel, then immediately old Phoenix devises ascheme to scrape up the shinny coin. She has already determined in her heartwhat she will purchase with this windfall.
Phoenix would rather not purchasesomething of need. She has attained some additional funds along her journey. With these additional funds, she has in mind to return with a gift for hergrandson, who is ill and all alone back home. Phoenix is a poor, uneducated old woman. She is a positive and clever person. Old Phoenix can entertain herself with nature alone.
She has an imaginationall her own. Once Phoenix rested and realized she was half finished with herjourney, it was like a fresh wind to her. She, always being polite andcourteous, reminds others that she is just an old woman. Phoenix isremarkable, able to make continual journeys throughout the years. To Phoenix,it is as if the only two in the world are her grandson and herself.
Old Phoenix is more than what meets the eye. She has strength, motivated byher determination. She is driven by the love she has for her grandson. Herexistence in life is that of a poor, black, uneducated, rural woman. She isan incredible person in all she does, and she attains what is needs forsurvival.
