The Hero In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
In “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, many hero qualities are displayed by the main character, Phoenix Jackson. She is a strong-willed and brave old lady who is going from her home out in the country to the city to get her grandson medicine her needs. Even though she does not physically look like a typical hero, her emotions are at the same level as any superhero. Phoenix may seem as though she doesn’t have everything together a lot of the time, but she gets the job done.She also falls under the category of hero due to the many qualities she portrays.
‘The hero’s way isn’t always direct or clear.’ This is very true to Phoenix in several ways. She finds herself lost a lot of the time trying to find her way around. “ ‘Through the maze now,’ she said, ‘for there was no path’. “( pg. 49) Phoenix always has to reassure herself of where she is
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“So she left that tree, and had to go through a barbed-wire fence.” (pg. 48) She physically had to go through a fence to carry on with her quest. Many things happened to her where she had to put herself in danger in order to keep going. “Over she went in the ditch, like a little puff of milkweed.” (pg. 50) But the physical darkness isn’t the only thing that Phoenix falls into. her mind and how she get confused multiple times along her quest can also be a form of darkness as well.
Phoenix Jackson isn’t your typical hero but, she does fulfill her goal of wanting to get her grandson the medicine he needs. Her ability to physically get things done has decreased as she has gotten older and that is clear to see but her mind and spirit has not aged. Throughout the story there were many examples of how she can outsmart people who might think they were above her. She proves that not all heros have to be the stereotypical strong, young man, but can be an old woman with a smart
Intergenerational Trauma In The Break
1083 Words | 5 PagesThis exemplifies how intergenerational trauma has left victims desiring to be loved. Phoenix leaves the St. Vital Center and makes her way across town to her uncle's house. Phoenix decides to walk in the cold for hours until she has "lost feeling in her legs" (Vermette 25), all to impress her uncle. Phoenix’s decision to walk to her uncle’s house instead of asking for help continues to reveal to the reader how Phoenix has adopted a mindset of not showing weakness by asking for help, all while trying to gain admiration from her uncle. Additionally, as soon as she arrives at her uncle's house, she begins to plan ways to make her uncle happy.
Phoenix Jackson Archetypes
1718 Words | 7 PagesWhether Phoenix makes the journey because of the trauma causing her to relive experience, or because she is in denial, or if she does it to honor him, it does not change the fact that Phoenix persevered in order to reach the goal of acquiring the medicine. Phoenix makes it to her destination despite having to walk through a dead and dangerous land in order to keep the memory of her grandson alive because she is a strong and courageous women with a deep love for her grandson that was not altered simply because he is gone from the physical
Perseverance In 'The Scorpio Races'
437 Words | 2 PagesThe phoenix represents the ability to rise from the ashes of defeat and overcome obstacles. This archetype is evident in both Sean and Puck's storylines. Sean has faced numerous setbacks in his life, including the death of his father and the loss of his mother's love. However, he refuses to give up and continues to persevere in his pursuit of victory in the Scorpio Races. Similarly, Puck has faced significant obstacles, including the death of her parents and the financial struggles of her family.
Symbolism In A Worn Path By Eudora Welty
292 Words | 2 PagesOne could assume that symbolism is the backbone to all literature. Without symbolism the piece of literature is inadequate, lacking representations of objects, people, and situations. However Eudora Welty’s work “A Worn Path” proves the prominence of symbolism in any prose. The short story about a woman’s ability to face nature, mankind, and one’s own self. The protagonist is an woman named Phoenix Jackson who has an unforgettable nature.
Everyday Use By Eudora Welty Compare And Contrast
485 Words | 2 PagesAlso like Everyday Use, A Worn Path takes place at a time in the 1900s when racism existed. Just like Mama, Phoenix also takes care and protects a child. However, the child she takes care of is her grandson. Many years ago, her grandson swallowed lye. This is a strong substance which is used in making soap.
Three Artistic Tools Used In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
488 Words | 2 PagesIn the short story Welty’s want the reader to be comfortable with Phoenix as a character. Welty describes Phoenix wearing a long dress reaching her shoe top and a long apron of bleached sugar sacks. When Phoenix talks aloud to herself the author wants the reader to imagine an old woman with characteristics of a warm, comical, young spirited woman side of her. The short story also uses images which evoke from the biblical imagery. Phoenix’s uses biblical connection to show the reader how important her story and the
Obstacles In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
539 Words | 3 PagesPhoenix said, “Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far” (Welty 464). This was the first occurrence were Eudora shows the strong desire that Phoenix has to persevere.
The Living Libraries In Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451'
1051 Words | 5 PagesJust so he can make the same mistakes again, and again, and again. The bird teaches how without understanding what we are doing wrong we will continue to make these same faults again. However, he also says “...but we’ve got one damn thing the Phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we’ve done for a thousand years and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, some day we’ll stop making the goddam funeral pyres and jumping in the middle of them.
Modernism In A Worn Path
1222 Words | 5 PagesOld Pheonix is unquestionably determined, even against an unforeseeable future to retrieve her grandson's medicine. Yet as she speaks to all the animals and nature and has a delusional vision, the story raises several questions as she walks. When she mistakes the scarecrow for a real person and begins to dance with him, while the scene is humorous, it leads to doubt as to the sanity of the old woman. Old Phoenix even disquietly admits "'I ought to be shut up for good… My senses is gone.
Literary Elements In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
526 Words | 3 PagesShe exemplifies Christ along her journey when she stops under a mistletoe tree; the same type of tree in which the cross was made. The thorns she encounters also relate to Christ’s death on the cross, the crown of thorns he wears on his head. The journey she takes to get her grandson’s medicine, is considered to be an example of self-sacrifice. Phoenix gives others the opportunity to help her and accomplish good things. One example is when the hunter helps her out of the ditch.
A Literary Analysis Of Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
678 Words | 3 PagesGiven her grandson’s injuries that hope is as fragile as the paper windmill. This reminds us that hope is fragile, and is contingent on historical and civil efforts beyond Phoenix and her grandson. Phoenix Jackson perseveres to achieve a purposeful goal. Phoenix Jackson stayed true to her faith in times of desperation. Against the obstacles, she was willing to reach her destination to provide her grandson with the medicine he is in need of.
Phoenix Symbolizes Rebirth In The Phoenix: Granger
60 Words | 1 PagesThe Phoenix: The Phoenix symbolizes rebirth. The Phoenix is known for rising from the ashes after being burned. In the story after the city has been destroyed, Granger compares the destruction to the bird. Both are destroyed and rise from the destruction. So if Granger and the others use their knowledge, they won’t be like the Phoenix and prevent destruction.
Racism In A Worn Path
883 Words | 4 PagesSome references even suggest Phoenix may have once been a slave; such as the chains the old woman feels on her feet as she climbs the path uphill. Racial inequality is unmistakably clear when the old woman falls in the ditch and is confronted by the white hunter. One would believe the hunter calling Phoenix Granny to be a harmless reference to her age; however, Granny is a term coined by southern whites in the thirties and forties and refers to a single elderly black woman: a granny is an old black woman who takes care of the white
A Worn Path Phoenix Jackson Character Analysis
738 Words | 3 PagesPhoenix is doing this out of her selfless and kind heart for her loved ones. If she never cared and was selfish then she would never be making these difficult journeys and wasting her time for someone
Phoenix Jackson Obstacles
507 Words | 3 PagesShe stood straight and faced him. ”(para 55) This scene shows how Phoenix is forceful when the hunter hold the gun right at her face and she does not move. She is a strong woman and her character proves that with
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