The short story under consideration presents the third-person narration, which allows the author for creating a special atmosphere and involving the reader into the actions. Eudora Welty switches from description of the surroundings to the main character’s thoughts and speech. It facilitates conveying the meaning of the story, which is obviously associated with love and sacrifice. Through the story, Eudora Welty demonstrates how love can make people overcome obstacles and even sacrifice something for the sake of the beloved.
The story was first published in 1941 which is a relevant piece of information, since the main character of the story is an old African-American woman. The action is set in the period when black people were not yet entitled to the same rights as white people. Besides that life was extremely tough in those times after the Great Depression, it was even tougher for Afro-Americans. The woman’s name is Phoenix Jackson. At the beginning of the story she finds herself in the country, on a cold December day. The writer provides a detailed description of the old lady, which helps understand that she is poor, not educated, slow, and fragile and probably cannot see very well: “She carried a thin, small cane made from an umbrella, and with this she kept tapping the frozen earth in front of her”. (Welty, p.1). It is clear that she is making her way through the wilderness since she encounters animals she wants to keep away from. A log is another obstacle on her way, but she manages to overcome it despite the fact that she is clumsy and wearing uncomfortable long skirts. Having marched across the log, she has to get through a barbed-wire fence, worrying that she cannot tear her dress. Then there is a cotton field and a corn field, she literally has to make her way through: “Through the maze now,“ she said, for there was no path”. (Welty, p.3). It is an interesting moment in the story, since the reader’s attention is secretly directed towards the racism theme. She is an Afro-American woman among white people, and there is no path, she is forced to create it: “Big dead trees, like black men with one arm, were standing in the purple stalks of the withered cotton field”. (Welty, p.3). Cotton is white, so it is likely to symbolize white people.
Later, Phoenix finds herself lying in a ditch, helpless and unable to get out. She loses herself in a daydream: “when a little boy brought her a plate with a slice of marble-cake on it she spoke to him But when she went to take it there was just her own hand in the air”. (Welty, p.3). It is obvious, that the marble-cake is a symbol of something unattainable to Phoenix due to her social status. Luckily, a white man happens to be there and lends her a helping hand. The old lady continues her way and finally reaches the town, Natchez, whose decorations hint it is Christmas time. She enters a tall building and has to climb a lot of steps before she gets to the destination. It is a medical institution where she gets medicine for her grandson as a charity case. Some years ago he swallowed lye by accident and now he has problems with his throat, which never heals. This moment is definitely the climax, as the reader understands the purpose of this hard trip: she does it to relieve her grandson’s sufferings.
The story describes a day in a life of an old Afro-America lady, but it tells a lot more. Eudora Welty exploits various symbols to support her message of the power of love. The title itself is a symbol, since it reveals that Phoenix has made the trip plenty of times. It is a worn path, familiar but difficult. The path that promises at least some relief to her only grandson’s illness. It seems as if he is the sole thing that keeps her alive: “We is the only two left in the world”. (Welty, p.10).
Probably, the author created the character of Phoenix Jackson to demonstrate what difficulties Afro-American people have to deal with. The path full of obstacles to the desired medicine might be considered a metaphor to the path that black people have to make to get their rights recognized. Undoubtedly, the lady’s name has been chosen on purpose. Phoenix is a mythic bird, which was burnt in a fire and then rose from the ashes. Just like the bird, the old lady has been through the path many times; black people have been through hard times, but they all keep on fighting. The following examples support the idea that the race prejudice issue is touched upon in the story: “A charity case, I suppose,” said an attendant” (Welty, p.8). “I know you all colored people! Wouldn’t miss going to town to see Santa Claus!” (Welty, p.6). “he laughed and lifted his gun and pointed it at Phoenix”. (Welty, p.7).
Overall, the short story is a powerful piece of writing which I consider to be multilayered. By this I mean that there is more than just one theme, and it depends on the reader’s background what theme they will detect. In fact, the theme of love becomes obvious as soon as the purpose of the trip is revealed. Later, as one puts together the pieces of information, a broader picture emerges: the story of Phoenix is a metaphor for the hard life of all Afro-American people.
Works cited
Welty, Eudora. A Worn Path. 1941.
