The Character of Phoenix Jacks

Phoenix Jackson is Eudora Welty’s main character in “A Worn Path.” Phoenix is an old, somewhat mentally disoriented Negro woman. Most of Phoenix’s character traits are displayed during her walk through the forest but Phoenix’s most significant trait, that of her devotion and loyalty, is not revealed until the end of the story. Phoenix’s main character traits are her ability to focus on the task at hand, her bravery, and her devotion to her grandson.

Although Phoenix is very old and deteriorated mentally, she is still able to focus on the things which are important to her. Phoenix knows that she must make a difficult journey through the forest in order to get her grandson his medicine and she does. Phoenix encounters many hardships on her journey but does not deviate from her

Although an argument could be made that due to Phoenix’s mental deterioration all her behavior is just mechanical, these traits were nevertheless ingrained from a lifetime of such behavior. Phoenix Jackson might be physically week and disoriented, but she still has a very strong character which includes the attributes of focused determination, bravery, and devotion.

Phoenix’s most admirable character trait is her devotion to her ailing grandson. Towards the end of this story we learn that Phoenix makes this long journey through the forest regularly for her grandson who needs the medicine that Phoenix obtains in the city. Phoenix steals from an armed man and demeans herself by begging in order to buy her grandson a present. She is more devoted to her grandson’s happiness than she is to her own safety or G-d who watched over her in the forest.

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