A Path to be Taken

Eudora Welty gives a description of Phoenix Jackson's personality in the first paragraph of "A Worn Path". Welty gives the description of Phoenix's "head tied in a red rag...", the red rag symbolizes the obstacles that hold Phoenix back on her journey (Welty 502). "She walked slowly in the dark pine shadows..." (502). This statement given by Welty shows the strong character of Phoenix Jackson; she is not afraid. Phoenix's strong attitude continues through the story as she accomplishes the obstacles put in front of her. Although she is strong, Phoenix is also tender like "the balanced heaviness and lightness of a grandfather clock" (502). The struggle made for the health of her grandson shows the unselfish and kind heart of Phoenix Jackson.
Being "an old Negro woman" in the 1940's, "a bright frozen day in the early morning" relates to the kine but shady attitude the white man and the nurse express to Phoenix in the story (502). The white man displays his "bright" attitude towards old Phoenix when "he lifted her up" out of the ditch (505). A "frozen" message is sent to Phoenix by the white man as he says to her, "Now you go one home, Granny!" (505). The white man is putting Phoenix down in this statement, making the judgment that she is not strong enough to make it to town. Phoenix does not listen to the white man and continues on her journey "meditative like the chirping of a solitary little bird" ignoring the obstacles which bring her down (502).