Symbolism In A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

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It is evident that there is a tremendous amount of natural symbolism in the setting of Eudora Welty’s “A worn path”. The story entails the tremendous journey an old negro woman named Phoenix Jackson has to endure in order to receive medicine for her grandson. Throughout her challenging trip she faces many obstacles but with her perseverance and love for her grandson, she is able to carve her way through the path. In this story Welty “employs many of the devices which can make of the modern short story an intricate and densely complex form” (Isaacs). This makes it crucial for you to be able to pick up on all of the symbols throughout the story and be able to determine what they represent. Welty was extremely clever when choosing the character Phoenix Jackson’s name. It’s no question that Phoenix Jackson’s name is one of the biggest symbols evident in the story. Her name, Phoenix, there’s an obvious reference to the Egyptian mythological creature. It is also seen in the text that Jackson’s appearance is similar to that of what the creature is said to be. Jackson is described in the text as having “a golden color ran underneath, and the two knobs of her cheeks were illuminated by a yellow burning under the dark” (Welty 142). Jackson’s hair is also described as being tied back in a “red …show more content…
Jackson and the regular journey she makes to Natchez is similar to the trip a Phoenix towards the end of its life in order to restore its life and be born again. Throughout mythology, the phoenix has been characterized as being a protector. Jackson is definitely characterized as a protector. She has been embarking on the journey to Natchez in order to receive medicine for her sick grandson. It’s stated in the text that Jackson risks her own life on a regular basis to make the trip to get medicine for her grandson that would otherwise die without it (Welty
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