Overcoming the Odds in Eudora Weltys A Worn Path Essays -- Worn Path

In the short story, A Worn Path Eudora Weltys plot is not on the whole that relieve oneself in the beginning, alone progresses as her character carries on against the overwhelming forces against her. In this short story a black elderly woman, Phoenix Jackson, must outmatch the odds against her as she valiantly travels through many obstacles in order to contribute to the wellness of her grandson, for whom she is making this trip down a worn path. It is at this point that all of Weltys readers hearts open up to this poor, elderly woman as she works an attempt to carry on her love for her grandson by taking a long journey down a familiar path in order to get medication that seems to help ease his sickness pains. However, there argon many forces against Phoenix that Welty includes in her story in order to make Phoenixs adventure end in a victory. Poverty, old age, and her journey through the timber are all of the odds which Phoenix must overcome. Poverty is a major hardship that most of us will neer have to face, but inPhoenixs case, poverty is present everyday in her and her grandsons life. Since she isIn this state of poverty, Phoenix is not able to enjoy lifes luxuries as others do andMust make do with what she can. As she begins her journey, it becomes clear that she lacksthe money to pay for transportation to and from town therefore, she starts down her pathcarrying a thin, small cane made from an umbrella (132). Although Welty never reallyemphasizes what this is used for the reader can assume that she uses it because she doesnot have the money to buy the actual cane needed to help her walk properly. another(prenominal)conflict dealing with poverty arouses when she feels it necessary to steal from a huntershe encounters in... ...cidents indicate that Phoenix adapts to the dangers that face her,and allows the plot to then become clear. Welty catches the readers attention by how real her short story seems. Eventhough many people may never experience P hoenixs problems, the descriptions andimages she uses allows her to create a powerful story in which many feel they can relateto in some way. Her three major problems, poverty, old age, and some form of a journey,are all obstacles which all of her readers will one day face as they travel throughtheir own paths. Works CitedJacobs, Henry E. and Roberts, Edgar V. Literature An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 5th ed. in the raw Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998 131-137.Oates, Joyce C. Eudora Welty. Contemporary Literary Criticism. 1973 ed. 361.Vande Kieft, Ruth M. Eudora Welty. New York Twayne Publishers, 1987.