Everyone reacts differently to different situations in life. The short story "A Worn Path", by Eudora Welty, shows an excellent example of this statement. The main character of the story is Phoenix Jackson, an old and poor woman who tracks through many different settings on her way to town. Phoenix undergoes many different character changes as the story progresses. The changes in Phoenix Jackson are visible as she walks through the pine trees, crosses the stream, and while sitting at the doctor's office. .
When Phoenix sets out on her voyage early in the morning, she is surrounded by pine trees that seem to overcome her. She shows her determination as she struggles along the trail. She walks side to side in a manner that would suggest quickness in her step, maybe a little quicker than she would normally be maintaining. She needs to return home before the sun goes down with the medicine for her little grandson. Phoenix knows the trail very well and walks with confidence, not even looking at where her feet are landing. Along the way she stops to warn the foxes and other small animals to stay out of her way saying, "Out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons, and wild animals!.Keep out from under these feet, little bob-whites .Keep the big wild hogs out of my path. Don't let none of those come running my direction. I got a long way" (216). The tone Phoenix uses suggests that she means business and must finish what she set out to do. .
As Phoenix approaches the creek, she says, "Now comes the trial" (217), and it becomes obvious that her character changes to that of a child. She takes a large first step raising her knee high, walking onto the log resembling a child marching, while holding the small cane straight out, as if to point the direction as other children follow her. This image of Phoenix is one a person would most likely associate with children. As she crosses the creek, she sits down to rest and finds herself hallucinating.
