ong journey. At one point when she is climbing up a hill, she states that it seems like “there is chains about my feet, time I get this far.” And yet she still trudges onward, stopping only once for a short break. On the way down the hill she

gets caught in a bush, its thorns tearing at her finest dress. “I in a thorny bush,” she exclaims. But she doesn’t give up; she stands there untangling herself from the bush, “her fingers busy and intent.” After she has overcome this obstacle she faces yet another trial. Across Phoenix’s path lies a creek and across the creek lies a log, which substitutes as a bridge. It is hard enough for Phoenix to walk on flat and stable ground, so walking across the log is a dangerous challenge for her. Even though there is a large threat of her falling and badly hurting herself, “she mounted the log and shut her eyes” and crosses to the other side. Next she comes across a barbwire fence, and once again without showing any signs of fear she fords ahead crossing that too. Phoenix travels a good portion of the day facing many physical challenges that test her stamina, but the real trials are the physiological ones that she faces as she encounters people along her journey. The first person that she meets is a hunter. In the beginning he seems like a benevolent character because “he lifted her up, gave her a swing in the air, and set her down,” helping her out of the ditch that a dog had pushed her into. He even inquires “anything broken, Granny?” and goes on to ask her where she lives. But then his manner turns unfriendly. “Why, that’s too far … now you go on home, Granny!” he exclaims when he learns where Ol

Some topics in this essay:
Phoenix Jackson, Santa Claus”, African American, doctor’s office, Eudora Welty, phoenix jackson, Ordeal Devotion, doctor’s office phoenix, ailing grandson, story phoenix, office phoenix, sense self-sacrifice, grandson phoenix, hostile environment,