Love Conquers All in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

592 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Examples of symbolism in “a worn path” by eudora welty

Love Conquers All in A Worn Path

Love is a strong force. Love can make a person do strange and sometimes heroic things. Eudora Welty introduces us to Phoenix Jackson in "A Worn Path," a story about the love that a woman feels for her grandson. Through the actions of Phoenix Jackson, the reader learns that love can conquer anything. This theme is demonstrated through Phoenix's determination, her ability to overcome obstacles, and her reaction to the employees at the clinic.

Phoenix Jackson is an old woman. The politically correct term "elderly" does not accurately describe just how old she is. She does not see well anymore, she walks with a cane to assist her unsteady gait, and she occasionally imagines objects that are not truly there. Despite her age and the frailtie...

... middle of paper ...

...strong. She makes this treacherous trip all the way into town to get his medicine so that he may live another six months, and she still has to make the journey in reverse to get it back home to him.

Work Cited

Welty, Eudora. "A Worn Path" Literature and the Writing Process. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice, 1999. 363-368.

Show More
Related

  • Comparing The Lover Not Taken, by Blanche Farley and The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Road Not Taken.” Literature and the Writing Process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan et al. 8th ed.

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Courage In A Worn Path By Phoenix Jackson

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    “A Worn Path” told the story of an old woman named Phoenix Jackson. She had to make a long, adventurous journey to town in order to receive medicine for her grandson who had fallen ill. Phoenix Jackson was determined to reach her destination, and she did not let anything stand in her way. Throughout her voyage, she displayed characteristics of being brave, unselfish, and senile.

    Read More

  • Phoenix's Determination

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “A Worn Path” Eudora Welty uses symbolism and characterization to show that utter determination and self-discipline enables Phoenix to accomplish her ultimate goal (get medication); and without these attributes, she almost certainly would have not accomplished it. In fact, Phoenix develops into a great example for people who face disrespect and degeneration of health, and perfectly illustrates the features needed to succeed when hindrances obstruct success.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    Word Press editor. “An Analysis of Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’”. Word press. N.P., April 12,2013. Web. 17 Mar 2014.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path: Struggle For Racial Equality

    1517 Words  | 4 Pages

    In "A Worn Path", a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a "worn path" through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics have speculated that this short story represents the love a grandmother shows for her grandson. Others say this story represents life and death, where Phoenix represents an immortal figure. Dennis J. Sykes disagrees with the other critics by saying, "A parallel exists between the journey described and the plight of the Southern blacks after the Civil War" (Sykes). Ultimately, Eudora Welty demonstrates how blacks have been persecuted in a white world.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies, involving complex plots, which result in hilarious outcomes. The main plot of Twelfth Night tells of Count Orsino's efforts to woo the Lady Olivia. who does not return his affection. Instead, Olivia is smitten with her. Orsino's servant Cesario, unaware of his true identity.

    Read More

  • Alfred Hitchcock's Techniques in Psycho

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sam lives. Events occur that lead her to buy a new car and end up in

    Read More

  • Essay About Love in Welty’s A Worn Path

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    The description of Phoenix Jackson at the beginning of this story gives the reader a glimpse of how difficult this trip is going to be for an elderly woman such as her. The description “Her eyes were blue with age. Her skin has a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles” are indications of Phoenix Jackson’s old age. She supports herself with a cane, striving not to fall with every step she takes. She wears a “dress reaching down to her shoe tops” along with ”an equally long apron of bleached sugar sacks, with a full pocket.” This just adds to her difficulties.

    Read More

  • Phoenix Jackson In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    1412 Words  | 3 Pages

    Love is by far the most powerful force known to man, and has been fueling hope since the beginning of time. To those who have never been in love, the actions caused by it make little to no sense, and may seem completely irrational. However, these same actions make perfect sense to someone motivated by love. Eudora Welty, an author and photographer born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, wrote mainly about the attitudes of people growing up in Mississippi (Brittanica). Her short story “A Worn Path” is no exception to this story type, and portrays the previously mentioned truths about love through the character Phoenix Jackson. Though she may seem crazy and often fails to remember her grandson, Phoenix Jackson is motivated to complete her long journey solely by her love for him.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

    456 Words  | 1 Pages

    William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night In 'Twelfth Night' Olivia's trusted steward Malvolio, like Sir Andrew, is the 'butt of comedy'. His very name suggests 'ill-will', which echoes his role in the play. Malvolio is an egotistical, "overweening rogue", who is a straight laced, puritanical, social climbing rebuker of others for their anti-social and often sinful behaviour, or as he put it, "misdemeanours". Malvolio's character is summarised excellently by Maria in Act II Scene III: The devil a puritan that he is, or anything, constantly, but a time-pleaser, an affectioned ass that cons state without book and utters it by great swarths; the best persuaded of himself, so crammed, as he thinks with excellencies, that if is his grounds of faith that all that look on him love him.

    Read More

  • Love and Lust in Play-By-Play, Sex without Love, and Junior Year Abroad

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    Meyer, Michael, ed. Thinking and Writing About Literature.  Second Edition. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2001.

    Read More

  • Welty’s A Worn Path: The Strength of Love

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the story A Worn Path, Eudora Welty shows an old woman living in a time period where racial prejudice is rampant and out of control.  Phoenix Jackson is a grandmother whose only motivation for living is to nurture her grandson back to health.  The strength of love may make people do or say unusual and implausible things.  The central idea of this story is that love can empower someone to over come many life-threatening obstacles.  The idea is shown when an old woman conquers all odds against her to show her everlasting love for her grandson.  Throughout the story Phoenix Jackson has to overcome many types of obstacles that hinder her in her devotion to help her grandson.

    Read More

  • Othello and Iago Comparison

    556 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello and Iago Comparison Othello and Iago are different in their characters as well as in their colours. It could be said also, however, that they are similar because of their fallibility. Iago is overcome with his desire for revenge to such an extent that he puts it into action. Othello's love and possessiveness of Desdemona take over him until he eventually would rather kill her than allow anyone else to have her. In this way, despite their contrasts, Iago and Othello both represent the extremity of the same thing - human emotion.

    Read More

  • Literary Analysis: "A Worn Path"

    1647 Words  | 4 Pages

    Welty, Eudora. “A Worn Path.” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 4th Compact Ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2008, pp. 95-100.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    ‘Twelfth Night’ or ‘What You Will’ by Shakespeare is seen as a comedy for various reasons. However, on many occasions, this play is almost categorised as a tragedy because of the different situations that the killjoy figure has to endure, through the use of mockery. Because of this, critics find that there is a very thin line between the categorisation of the novel and therefore see ‘Twelfth Night’ as both comedy and tragedy despite the fact that the audience and Shakespeare call this play a comedy. Furthermore, Mel Brooks says ‘Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall down an open sewer and die’. Therefore, this just shows how close the genres of comedy and tragedy really are as they can both lead to similar consequences like those Malvolio faced when he was mocked excessively by Shakespeare throughout all five acts of ‘Twelfth Night’. However, this mockery also shows many social messages as Malvolio was mocked for being a puritan which implies that Elizabethans were against their doings.

    Read More

More about Love Conquers All in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

Open Document