The fact that she is able to overcome the weather obstacles shows how much perseverance she has. By giving a character the name Phoenix, Welty helped reveal and shape the true character of Phoenix Jackson.
Weather one just one of many obstacles Phoenix had to overcome on her way to the hospital. She got caught in a thorn bush and had to pick herself out without ripping her dress. "But before she got to the bottom of the hill a bush caught her dress. It was not possible to allow the dress to tear. "I in the thorny bush," she said. "Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass, no sir. Old eyes thought you was a pretty little green bush."" (Welty, 687) Phoenix didn't want to rip her dress because she was going into town and she wanted to look nice and neat. She slowly untangled her dress from the thorn bush, careful not to rip her dress. She then had to cross a creek and she decided to test how "old" she really was by walking across a log with her eyes closed. She safely made it to the other side of the creek. "'I wasn't as old as I thought'" (Welty, 687) Farther down the path, there was an area that was as dark as a cave because of overhanging trees. A black dog knocked her off the path and "over she went into the ditch, like a little puff of milkweed." (Welty, 688) Eventually, a young, white hunter finds her and helps her up and out of the ditch. He seems nice and friendly, but he is actually racist. He tries to tell her what to do and where to go. " 'On your way home?' 'No sir, I going to town.' 'Why, that's too far! . Now you go on home, Granny!'" (Welty, 688) He even throws in a racist comment after Phoenix insists that she must go to town. " 'I know you old colored people! Wouldn't miss going to town to see Santa Claus!'" (Welty, 689) The hunter then raises his gun and points it at Phoenix.
