Struggles of Survival

Through life men and women have always struggled. From the early days all to the days of the present. During those times, there has been much literature on how to survive trials of life; nevertheless, some great works of literature that express triumph are Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” and Claude McKay’s “If We Must Die”. In “A worn Path” the journey is expressed to show the journey of a brave woman. “If We Must Die” encourages us to keep fighting even if we are going to lose the battle. These works of art can motivate anyone to keep on going with through hard times in our lives.

In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path”, an elderly woman goes through trial for the greater good. Ms. Phoenix Jackson goes on a journey, most people could not take, to save her grandson’s life. Rachel Lister, an author of Literary Context in Short Stories Collections: Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’, states what kind of person Phoenix is: “[A] female subject [that] makes her way through a wood on a mission to help the afflicted” (par. 5). She goes through obstacles to get to her destination: she is attacked by a black dog, she goes through a barbed wire fence, she encounters a white hunter, and etc. Rachel Lister implies, “She faces a series of challenges and temptations” (par. 5). Nevertheless she is ambitious to finish her journey, although it is a cold winter day. “A Worn Path” is full of symbolism. Rachel Lister asserts, “The chains …, the thorns, and the barbed wire symbolizes the continuing oppression which restricts the social mobility of the African American people in the south” (par. 5). Ms. Phoenix is just not a character but she is a symbol for hope. Her character is portrayed as a Christ-like figure. She goes these trials to save her grandson from death...

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...he battle with the men, but we do know that both of these stories have a very clear message. Both of these stories wants to save lives in some type of way. They both overcome obstacles and come out on the winning side even though that side is death. Furthermore, they carry on the legacy that Jesus left by trying to uplift higher to newer dimensions. The struggles of these characters can give hope to anyone who comprehends the depths of each story.

Works Cited

Heglar, Charles J. "Claude Mckay's `If We Must Die,' Home To Harlem, And The Hog Trope." Anq 8.3

(1995): 22. Literary Reference Center. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Lister, Rachel. “Literary Contexts in Short Stories: Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’; Understanding

Literature- Literary Contexts in Collections; 2007, p1, 1p. Literary Reference Center. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

“If We Must Die”. Schmoop.com. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.