Introduction
The short novel A Worn Path, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Eudora Welty in 1940, sheds light on the story of an elderly rural African-American woman, Phoenix Jackson. The old woman has been going on a long journey to the city of Natchez, Mississippi, for several years to obtain medicines for her grandson, who is in a severe condition. It is imperative to state that the historical context of the writing is crucial in explicating the plot. For instance, A Worn Path is set in the South of the United States during the Great Depression at the beginning of the 20th century. Furthermore, literary critics acknowledge that blatant racism, the human spirit’s power, and selfless love are the main ideas reflected in the story (Bethea 33). The novel’s narrative delineates adversaries that the protagonist encounters on her path and how she overcomes it. For this reason, the image of the main character appears as a symbol of the embodiment of divine virtue, constantly enduring severe ordeals.
Phoenix as a Symbol of Immortality
First and foremost, an allusion to the actual Phoenix, a mythical bird that lived for five hundred years, then died and was reborn, permeates the fictional character of Phoenix Jackson. Like a phoenix, she resumes her long journey every time in the hope of a fortunate outcome (Donlan 549). Moreover, the character’s appearance also refers to the legendary bird, making the allusion obvious. On the contrary, Donlan claims that Phoenix portrays a victim who defies death and surpasses the violence she experiences in the story (550). Hence, the concept of immortality reveals in the protagonist’s image; “…Phoenix is not a stereotype but a symbol of immortality” (qtd. in Donlan 549). Given the above, no obstacle can stop the character on the way, neither physical nor mental; she will continue to walk the path as long as there is a goal.
Correspondingly, only during the trip, does A Worn Path’s protagonist fulfills her life purpose. According to Daly, the protagonist “has come before and will make the same journey again, for the end of her quest is not conclusive; it is only comforting” (qtd. in Daly 133). It implies that there is no assurance that Phoenix’s grandson will survive, but as long as she takes this path repeatedly, she has a purpose; she believes healing is feasible. Verily, is so immersed in the process of traveling the road that she even forgets the main reason behind it (Daly 139). Likewise, Eudora Welty does not divulge more details necessary to understanding whether the boy is alive to date and whether he will survive in the end; only what is happening here and now is essential.
Phoenix versus the World
The trials that Phoenix endures during the day increase in difficulty as she progresses through the route. Moreover, barriers to the world that the protagonist lives in appear in natural and human forms. At first, only natural obstacles pose a threat: the undiscovered inhabitants of the woods, a gentle hill, which is challenging to climb, a thorn bush, and a log thrown over the stream (Robinson 23). However, as Robinson suggests, the encounter with a white male hunter is a climacteric phase of the novel (24). An older woman distracts the hunter attention, who has earlier helped her get up, to pick up a nickel that fell out of his pocket. In this episode, Phoenix uses the man’s bias to her favor as compensation for his racist innuendo. The scene reveals the situation that unfolded in that historical context, the dominance of white people and the unenviable position of people with different skin colors. In addition, Phoenix realizes that this is theft, but it is not entirely clear how she feels after the incident.
The meeting of an older woman with employees of a medical institution is an example not only of a reprehensible attitude towards the main character but also an example of cold detachment. After the protagonist receives the medications, one of the nurses offers Phoenix a few pennies in an attempt to purchase “moral sanctity” for a handful of money, not because of genuine concern for other people (qtd. in Bethea 39). As described, the white characters met by the heroine appear to view Phoenix from an inhumane racist point of view.
Conclusion
To summarise, it is clear that Eudora Welty illustrates her perception of contemporary reality. For instance, the inequity of the African-American people’s position in which the main character found herself during the historical period of the Great Depression and years to come. In a more strict sense, this is a story about the trials that have befallen a person, about what he is capable of when he believes in his powers and has a particular goal. As a result, this particular goal becomes the reason that keeps him on the path. Vice versa, it is a philosophical discourse about life’s meaning, indicating that it is not the goal, but the means that matter. Finally, the novel’s protagonist is an example of the human spirit’s strength and altruistic love.
Works Cited
Bethea, Dean. “Phoenix Has No Coat: Historicity, Eschatology, and Sins of Omission in Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path“.” International Fiction Review, vol. 28, no. 1, 2001, pp. 32-41.
Daly, Saralyn R. “‘A Worn Path’ Retrod.” Studies in Short Fiction, vol. 1, no. 2, 1964, pp. 133-139.
Donlan, Don. “‘A Worn Path’: Immortality of Stereotype.” English Journal, vol. 62, no. 4, 1973, pp. 549-550.
Robinson, David. “A Nickel and Dime Matter: Teaching Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’.” Notes on Mississippi Writers, vol. 19, no. 1, 1987, pp. 23-27.