Like a phoenix rising from the flames, Phoenix Jackson rises from all the challenges. Symbolism is used in everything we do now in days, for example clothes, shoes and even simple words and colors. It helps us create and represent a imagine of who we are in a way that is memorable that allows us to tell a story. The story “The Worn Path” by Eudora Welty tells a story about an elderly woman who has struggles in her life but still manage to overcome everything. The author shows the journey of Phoenix Jackson through symbolism.
To Begin with the name Phoenix Jackson is a powerful symbol that represents her strength. A phoenix is a strong, powerful mythological bird that, when it dies it sets itself on flames and reborn by rising from the ashes. Phoenix Jackson hasn’t had an easy life not now or in her past. Even though the author doesn’t talk about her past there are clues in the story for example “Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far,” which is a way of telling the reader that she was once a slave. Also, it is a way of showing us how strong she is because even without education and all the abuse she must have had, she is still a strong woman who isn’t scare of anything and can overcome anything that comes her way. Her strength is put on the test every week when she goes to get the medicine for her grandson because of all the scary obstacles she needs to overcome for example “She mounted on the log and shut her eyes.” Phoenix Jackson shouldn’t be able to do that because of her age but she has to strength to conquer that obstacle because of her grandson. Another way she shows strength is that age doesn’t matter, and she is able to do anything she wants to. “Her eyes were blue with age. Her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles,” she is described as a really old, elderly woman but just like a phoenix age doesn’t stop her and has the strength to do anything, she sets out to do. Throughout the story Phoenix shows that there isn’t such thing as not being able to because all you need is strength to conquer it all, proving to the reader why she lives up to her name.
Next, the path symbolizes the challenges she had to conquer. Not only is it a worn path to travel but a worn path as her life. The path has so much symbolism as it isn’t just talking about her current journey but also her life showing the reader why she has had a worn path. “Something always takes a hold of me on this hill- pleads I should stay,” this quote is an example of how things or people in her life are always trying to hold her back and how she has fought to be where she is and to have craved out that path to keep on going. “Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass, no sir,” Phoenix Jackson has had many “thorns” in her life always getting trap in a situation she doesn’t want to be in for example slavery. Showing the reader how she isn’t willing to stop fight and just accept what is happening to her, and that even in a trap she will always escape one way or another even by “trembling all over.” Even though her path is far from being over Phoenix Jackson will do anything in her power to keep on craving out her path and moving forward.
Finally, the paper windmill symbolizes hope for a new beginning. A windmill is a powerful building with a big fan that helps generate natural energy. Phoenix Jackson hasn’t had an easy life and it doesn’t seem like it will get any easier, but at the end of the story she finds hope something she didn’t have before. She has hope for her grandson and her, that things will change and get better. She now wonders of the possibilities her and her grandson could have because of they are both free and able to do whatever they want to. “He going to find it hard to believe there such thing in the world,” now they can both dream about the future but also achieve a new happy life. The things that were holding them back before are in the past and in the future, they can do and make it whatever they desire to. However, the windmill is paper another symbol that even though they have hope and there are endless possibilities hope is a fragile thing so anything can happen and rip the paper windmill.
The story “A Worn Path” is a well written story that help us see the struggle of Phoenix Jackson but also lets the reader travel with Phoenix through all the challenges. The author shows why the main character is name Phoenix and that it wasn’t just a name given by accident, but a name well deserved. The path she travels each week isn’t just a simple path, it is a journey through her life and how she’s had to overcome everything that has been thrown at her to get where is now. Finally, at the end Phoenix finds hope something that is going to make her more powerful but also how she must fight even more get where she wants to be.
