A Worn Path
Jordan Nakasone
Summary: story about an elderly African-American woman named Phoenix Jackson who is walking through the woods into town. On her way she encounters many deterrents, like a dog, heavy brush, and a hunter who threatens her with a gun, among many other things. Her reason for going to Natchez is to pick up a supply of medicine for her grandson, who accidentally swallowed lye a few years before. The damage to his throat never fully heals, and every so often his throat will begin to swell shut. It is Old Phoenix's love for her grandson that causes her to face the trial of the journey to town, every time it is necessary, with no questions asked. At its heart, "A Worn Path" is a tale of undying love and devotion.
Style: Although the story is brief, it’s a tale of an elderly black woman who travels into town, it contains a level of ambiguity that fascinates readers. Also, Welty's use of language, myth, and symbol in this deceptively simple story is praiseworthy.
Irony: Both the lady who ties her shoes for her and the first attendant at the clinic call her "Grandma"; the attendant rudely asks whether she is deaf because Phoenix does not immediately reply to her routine questions, and from that point on, she consistently treats Phoenix as if she were stupid.
This is ironic because there is so much inside Phoenix -- so many years, so much pain, so much awareness. When, at the story's end, she is finally treated with a little compassion at the clinic, Phoenix demonstrates a miraculous ability to accept the harsh circumstances of her life, and go on.
Evaluation: The story is a great story of love, perseverance and simply the account of elderly African women making a journey few would consider for her age and distance she must travel. There is a depth of ambiguity buried within Welty’s story and questions of age, service, dedication, and myth also inform the story. It gives a realistic portrayal of the American South, particularly during the...
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