Symbolism is very effective way for an author, like Eudora Welty, to grasp hold of a reader and entice them explore the story further. A symbol for a story could be no more than the story title referring to something deeper within the text. Symbolism can also be used within a story. Welty chose to use the title as a direct relationship with the main theme in her story. “A Worn Path” is referring to the long and hard path taken by the African-American woman during the entirety of the story. Phoenix Jackson was an older lady whose features were well described in the second paragraph of the story; “Her eyes were blue with age. Her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead, but a golden color ran underneath, and the two knobs of her cheeks were illumined by a yellow burning under the dark.” (Welty 87). At the beginning of the story, Phoenix is already on a meticulous journey. We are not revealed where this journey is taking Phoenix until later in the story. As the s
tory progresses, Phoenix is faced with many different tasks along the journey. She runs into a thorn bush and comments upon it and also has to cross a creek and a barbed wire fence. During what would be the middle of the story, Phoenix is attacked by a black dog and falls into a ditch on the side of the road. Being as old and feeble as Phoenix is, it is hard for her to stand back up until a hunter comes by from town. At this point we are revealed the destination of Phoenix’s travel, the local town. The hunter helps Phoenix to her feet and goes on his way after a brief conversation. Phoenix continues her travel to the town and goes straight to what appears to be a doctor’s office. Phoenix then proceeds to talk to a particular woman who is there and receives some more medication for her grandson, “’All right.’ The nurse was trying to hush her now. She brought her a bottle of medicine. ‘Charity,’ she said, making a check mark in a book.” (Welty 91). After this Phoenix goes on her way. Phoenix herself reinforces the symbolism because of the many tim
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