A Worn Path Phoenix Jackson Character Traits

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Eudora Welty's “ A Worn Path” depicts the journey of Phoenix Jackson, an elderly black woman who alone embarks on an arduous trek through the Natchez Trace so she can retrieve medicine for her ill grandson. On her journey, Phoenix experiences multiple obstacles including her own failing health, wild animals, the terrain and a threatening hunter. When she takes on this prolonged trek through the Natchez Trace, many of her characteristics are revealed. Her tenacity, senility and patience emphasize her character. In the first few paragraphs, Welty provides a concise description of Phoenix’s physical composition. Phoenix is described as an old negro woman with a small-built and a red rag tied around her head, beneath the red rag lies her …show more content…

Firstly, We can infer that Phoenix Jackson is tenacious. Once she starts her journey she is determined to finish her journey. Bad weather, her own failing health, wild animals, the terrain and a threatening hunter are obstacles that Phoenix Jackson faces but continues anyways. It is said in the first paragraph that it was “a bright frozen sunny day in December” which suggests that it was cold terrible weather for someone to embark on a journey. Phoenix has a weak, delicate and small body which stands in contrary with the enormity of her journey. We can also infer that Phoenix is almost blind because her cane was so thin and fragile being made from an umbrella so it was not used for strength or balance but it was rather used to support her poor eyesight. Along her journey, Phoenix faces a plethora of other problems but that does not slow her down. She faces wild animals like foxes as she said in the beginning: “out of my way all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals.” Also, the terrain does not help her either. Along her journey, she travels over hills, through thorns, under barbed wires, through forests and over a creek filled with hungry dangerous alligators. Also, She faces racism and rude people along the way. For example, the hunter who threatens her with a gun and dogs and starts mocking colored people as he said: “ I know you old colored people! Wouldn’t miss going to town to see to Santa Claus.” Phoenix also faces rude attitude from the white people she meets during her journey. Both the woman who tied her shoes and the hunter start the conversation with “ What do you want Grandma?” which I found to be extremely rude to say to an elder you just met. All those obstacles seem not discourage Phoenix from continuing her

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