The two pieces of work, ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost, and ‘A worn Path’ by Eudora Welty both describe two separate journeys by two characters. The two journeys, though in separate worlds, are loaded with symbolism in the characters, elements of the journey and the emerging themes. The poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ brings out the choices made in terms of what course to take in life while the short story ‘A Worn Path’, shows the undying determination of a traveler to finish the course of her journey.
Symbolism of the journey
Though appearing simple and subtle, the story ‘A Worn Down Path’ by Welty, is loaded with symbolism and incorporates numerous elements of legend and myth; starting from the main character, Phoenix. Her name depicts the bird Phoenix from Egyptian mythology. Throughout the story, Welty makes references to several figures and elements of mythology, and prominently the phoenix. Even though there are different versions of the phoenix myth, the most common feature is its scarlet and gold description.
‘A Worn Down Path’ recounts the long journey of Phoenix Jackson, an elderly woman who journeys across the forest to the nearby town to get medication for her grandson who years back swallowed lye and has had a painful throat ever since. The bird, phoenix has been said to exhibit some powers: being able to appear or disappear and healing powers are some of the examples. But the most amazing power is the undying determination in its journey to the Sun City, Heliopolis in its old age. Upon reaching this city, the phoenix’s life begins afresh. It creates a nest and with fire from the sun, it burns and thereafter arises from its ashes to start life anew. This it does every one thousand years. From the name of the main character, her persistence and undying spirit, and the symbolism that is seen in Welty’s piece, Phoenix Jackson is a representation of the phoenix.
The name of the main character is an obvious indication of her role in the story and the symbolism in it. The legendary bird brings about an attitude of hope, promise and a sense of security. In the legends of the phoenix its role is to protect and bring hope. This is seen in the old woman’s determination to obtain medication for the grandchild and in turn bring some hope in his life and relieve his pain.
Jackson Phoenix’s appearance also shows her similarity to the legendary bird. Welty describes phoenix as “having a golden color running underneath her skin, and the two knobs of her cheeks were illuminated by a yellow burning under the dark" (Welty, 1940 par. 2). The author further describes her hair as a “red rag” (Welty, 1940, par. 2). The images seen here are too much for a coincidence. The phoenix is described in the myths as being beautiful with scarlet and gold colors. The old woman’s eyes are described by the author as being “blue with age," (Welty, 1940 par. 1). The statement indicates to the audience that Phoenix Jackson is aged. This can be compared to the legendary phoenix that lives for many years before the flame consumes it and gives it a rebirth from its ashes. The description in the form of imagery given by Welty as she describes the old woman’s skin as "a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead" (Welty 140, par. 2). This indicates the advanced age that both the woman in the story and the legendary bird grow to.
The regular trips that Phoenix makes to the city to get medication for her sun is symbolic of the trip s made by the legendary bird to the Sun City. The old woman’s journey is that of animal instinct as she is shown to travel with just her feet knowing where to go. She crosses the river with her eyes closed and trusts that her feet will take her there (Welty, 1940 par. 62). This animal instinct is seen in bird that flies long distances but never gets lost on their way. Phoenix’s journey to restore her grandson’s life and also her own in return could be symbolic of the phoenix’s journey to the city to restore itself and get a new life.
There are several descriptions in “A worn Path” that symbolize old age. These are indicative of the many years the phoenix lives and are also a reference to its immortality. The old woman’s eyes are described as being “blue with age” and her walk is also indicative of the same as it is said "blue with age" and she walks "slowly in the dark pine shadows, moving a little from side to side in her steps, with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a grandfather clock, " (Welty, 1940). Next is the picture painted of her skin, "a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead"(Welty 140). The above descriptions are all indicative of Jackson Phoenix’s advanced age which depicts the old age of the legendary bird. The milsotoe in the story that survives after winter also indicates the immortality of the phoenix. It stands up above as evidence of immortality. This shows the immortality of the phoenix.
The story has several references to birds in different areas; "a thin, small cane made from an umbrella and [with which] she kept tapping the frozen earth in front of her. These made a grave and persistent noise in the still air that seemed meditative like the chirping of a solitary little bird" (Welty, 1940). This reference to chirping could be equated to the sound made by the phoenix. The reference to birds in several parts of the story confirms the symbolic reference to the phoenix.
In a way, the journey by the old woman also depicts the journey of the legendary phoenix. The bird in the myths, regularly journeys to Heliopolis to experience its rebirth. Phoenix’s journey starts at sunrise, which is symbolic of the journey of the legendary bird that starts by its rise from its ashes at sunrise, where it gets a new life and starts a new life. The discourse at the hospital and Phoenix’s actions also points to the new life that the phoenix gets from sun- city. Welty says, “there was a flicker and then a flame of comprehension across her face, and she spoke" (Welty, 1940). The flame and the new lease of life here are symbolic of the bird’s new life after the rebirth. The painful journey taken by Phoenix and the care shown for her grandson is indicative of the pains that the legendary bird goes through in its journey as it cares enough to heal people with its tears and also protects their lives. The elements of the story, from the journey, the objects encountered the old woman’s care and attitude to the references to age and appearance all point to symbolic phoenix, the legendary bird.
Christian symbolism also features a great deal in Welty’s story. The story being set during the Christmas period, which we are shown at the end of her journey, could be seen to symbolize the Christian pilgrimage. Her journey, persistent but full of troubles and obstacles along the way, could be seen to symbolize the many trials a Christian go through in the pursuit of the substance of their faith. Phoenix’s selfless sacrifice for her grandson could also depict the Christian virtue of care and a giving spirit. In spite of everything that she faces in her journey, she regularly makes this trip to town, not for herself, but to get medication for her grandson’s sick throat. The persistence could also symbolize the Christian attitude of never giving up and focusing on the bigger reward at the end of the Christian pilgrimage.
Slavery is also seen in this narrative. The title of the story, ‘A Worn Path’ indicates a road that has been travelled many times before. The woman walks through the woods and is shown to be familiar with everything that happens along the way. She anticipates the obstacles and speaks to the animals and everything on her path like things that she is totally familiar with. This ‘worn path’ of slavery that has been travelled many times by the Negro and everyone has gotten familiar with it. The set-backs from slavery could be seen in the weeds that estrange her legs as she journeys up the hill. “But before she got to the bottom of the hill a bush caught her dress” (Welty 1940, n.p). Even after detangling herself from the bush that caught her dress, she still encounters more obstacles like a fence that she has to crawl through with caution. This shows the journey of the African- American through slavery. That even though at last they were free, the laws that drew a fence across their lives and obstacles that were hard to maneuver still kept them in some kind of bondage and made their lives really difficult.
The conflict in society is also symbolized throughout the plot of the story. The plot reveals how the main character, Phoenix is in constant conflict with the world. The society that she lives in is dominated by white people who constantly misunderstand and do not understand her circumstances. Everyone seems not to understand her intentions. The white man that she meets along her path in the woods, assumes that she is on her way to town “to see Santa Clause,” (Welty 1940). The nurses she finds at the hospital dismiss her case as charity and offer her pennies in sympathy. This society is so prejudiced and no one offers to learn the old woman beyond what they already think of her.
Welty seeks to achieve some form of racial harmony in her story. The part of the story where the old woman falls into a ditch and gets this vision of a little boy giving her a marble cake; this could be seen to symbolize the author’s desire for racial unity where black and whites exist harmoniously without any prejudice. Upon regaining her conscious self, Phoenix finds herself waving nothing but her hand in the air. This could show that this desire for racial harmony is still a long way to come and is just but a dream considering the reality in the author’s time.
Welty’s story emphasizes natural symbolism, the main character, Phoenix seems to be so full of life; she bonds with everything around her and seems to blend in well with everything. She is in synch with the bushes and the animals of a long her path and even speaks to them as she walks to her destination. Her neatness and keenness in her dressing also shows how much she respects and appreciates life. She reaches the town and is concerned about appearing in public with her undone shoe laces. The natural symbolism that surrounds her in her journey through this forest symbolizes her realism. The windmill could be seen as representing the vicious circle of life, the same old routine that goes on and on and is seen in Phoenix’s advanced age. The spirit of persistence, just like nature, will continue in Phoenix’s grandson as she continues to wait at home, hopeful about tomorrow.
The poem “The Road Untaken” symbolizes the choices that an individual has to make in life. The poem indicates a tone of regret, where the persona seems to have chosen a road that he wishes he had not taken but at the same time and cannot change and reverse that decision. The fork path represents the dilemma that individuals often face in life but are often forced to make a decision as an individual or to conform to the known safe routes. Many at times,, those who seek to stand as individuals often take the route that is less common hence the last stanza of the poem, “two roads diverged in a wood, and I—/ I took the one less traveled by,/ And that has made all the difference.” The persona here seems to have taken the less familiar route and has regrets. While the two literary pieces are so full of symbolism, the difference is seen in the implications of the symbols made. The first short story by Welty, “A Worn Path” shows hope and determination while the poem by Frost shows despair and regret.
Finger, Larry L. (November 1978). "Frost's "The Road Not Taken": A 1925 Letter Come to Light".
American Literature
Welty, E. (2008). “A Worn Path." Custom Literature Reader: ENC 1102. Eds. C.J. Baker, Roberta Samper,
and Christine Rakauskas. New York: McGraw Hill.
