Worn Path by Welty Eudora

¶ … Worn Path by Welty Eudora Welty's short story "A Worn Path" describes the journey undertaken by an African-American old woman through an unwelcoming countryside during winter time. In spite of the fact that the story initially appears to be rather ordinary, it gradually develops into an interesting and confusing adventure account. Phoenix Jackson's character certainly is brave and shall stop at nothing in order to get her grandson the medicine that he needs.

Welty first presents her readers with the environment that Phoenix has to deal with and with the strong-minded nature of the old woman. Most people might be lead to believe that an image of an old woman traveling through frozen forests is disturbing and even out of this world. In contrast to such concepts, Phoenix is not your typical grandmother, as she talks to herself and to the potential animals that she believes would interfere and disrupt her journey.

The author gives a fairytale-like touch to the story and eventually makes people passionately wanting to read further and hoping that Phoenix succeeds in reaching her destination.

Phoenix's appearance brings further fairytale elements to the story, as her physical description is made with great care by the author, most probably with the intention of creating a perfect image of an old woman whose "eyes were blue with age," "skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles," and "hair came down on her neck in the frailest of ringlets, still black, and with an odor like copper." (Welty) the old woman's determination makes up for the fact that she seems to be clumsy and slightly unbalanced.

While making her way through the forest, Phoenix constantly tries to bring arguments in favor of the concept that her journey is not as difficult as it would have been in different conditions. She does not seem to mind the cold, as she considers it to be effective in the thought that it prevents wild animals from leaving their shelter. Phoenix interacts with several white people in her expedition, and, while most of them treat her with disrespect, others actually understand her problem and help her in solving it.

The hunter, the lady on the street and the receptionist express their racism through their behavior and through the fact that they think that they know all about Phoenix and about people like her. The four individuals that interact with Phoenix contribute in shaping her character and in adding more logic to the story.

While people such as the hunter, the lady on the street, and the receptionist believe Phoenix to be a no-good beggar walking the streets with no actual purpose, the nurse is acquainted with the old woman's situation. Moreover, the nurse is the one.