In this harsh world, socioeconomic struggles define the lives of millions, and no one can escape the cruelty or reality of these hardships. Is there any way people can struggle and find a way to flourish in these circumstances? Willa Cather does a spectacular job portraying this reality in "Paul's Case." Showing an isolated young man struggling daily from these struggles, yet finding the strength to manage his way through life. Eudora Welty perfectly captures the cruelty of these struggles in "A Worn Path." Giving the reader insight into how people manage to survive in these harsh environments. Both authors address socio-economic issues, which provide unseen insight into the questions listed above. In "Paul's Case" and "A Worn Path," Willa Cather and Eudora…show more content… Outside sources even go so far as to say that his perceptions and “his surroundings explained him” because of the insight they give into his character (Cho 2). The way Paul can fight his struggles internally in this oppressive environment and escape from his surroundings helps him in many ways. However, this coping mechanism also leads to his unfortunate fate. His internal method of coping with the trappings of the world ultimately did not work in the long run. On the other hand, Phoenix, from “A Worn Path” deals with isolation in a much more physical and literal way than mental, like Paul. Phoenix struggles during times of oppression and discrimination against African Americans and women. Both of these struggles are very real and physical characteristics that are just as hard to deal with as mental and societal problems. Her struggles and the “pain of African Americans [are] segregated and ignored as much as possible” in this harsh world (Warfield 3). She is ignored and therefore left alone, isolated from others in
