A Worn Path - Term Paper Example

A worn path, by Eudora Welty, is a poignant story depicting various tribulations a character, Phoenix Jackson went through in her distressing journey. In her expedition from Mississippi to the town, she undergoes various life-threatening events some attributed to old age while others are circumstantial. The story is a life-reflective and heart breaking drama attracting the attention of many readers who keep wondering and sympathizing with the problems people underwent in order to get a service. Consequently, it is a story using outright descriptions of characters and situations to print a clear picture to the mind of the readers as to what goes on in the book. In as much as the book is interesting and emotional, the book has various themes and elements of literature, which come out.

The main theme present in chapter seven of the book, a worn path is racism. It is a story having a setting at a time when racial discrimination was a common occurrence, making her a victim of the circumstance. She is on a mission to acquire medicine for her sick grandson following a path she has followed many times. In the story, racism presents itself since it was also a period of civic movement when African Americans got scrutinized by white Americans who saw them as inferior people (Welty, 1998). On her trip to get the medicine, she gets knocked down by a white man’s dog who is on a hunting mission. She is too old and cannot get out by herself. For instance, in the hole she says, “Lying on my back like a June bug waiting to be ferried over, mister.” (Welty, 1998) This was a sign she could not make it out by herself from the hole due to old age and lack of energy.

When the man helps her out a sign of prejudice gets manifested. For example, from the book, “I know you old colored people! Couldn’t miss going to town to see Santa Claus!” (Welty, 1998) This is a sign of prejudice for the colored people. Moreover, a second instance of prejudice against race manifests, when the white hunter points his gun towards Phoenix in order to scare her.  Instead of getting scared, she is not scared and this makes the hunter ask her, “Do the guns care about you?” (Welty, 1998) this is a clear depiction of racism, as nobody is allowed to point a gun towards another individual unless having the intention to kill. Furthermore, the encounter with the white man manifests racism when the man says, “You must be a hundred years old, and scared of nothing, I’d give you a dime if I had any money with me” (Welty, 1998) this is a point when the white man is not aware phoenix had picked a nickel dropped by the white man.

This means he was just saying this in disguise yet even when he had the money, he was not willing to give the money to her because he did not like colored people. Even though the story has a setting at the end of slavery and the civil rights movement antipathy, the relationship among the Afro-Americans is still not stable. Black people have no access to medical facilities as opposed to white people. Phoenix's grandson is given a temporary medicine to heal his aching throat and does not show any sign of permanent healing.

The main literary element used in the story, a worn path remains symbolism. The name of the main character Phoenix, for instance, is a representation of an old woman. She is an old woman already representing her name who undergoes various hardships in the process of successfully completing her journey. This is depicted when she says, “I wasn't as old as such” (Welty, 1998) this is an incident she gets surprised with herself after performing a difficult task of climbing a mountain. Furthermore, she symbolizes the hard work of a log. In addition, irony becomes another literary device manifested in the story.

Is it quite ironic how the old woman, is treated throughout the whole journey of getting medicine for her ailing grandson? The white hunter, for instance, points a gun at Phoenix after helping her out of the hole where she had fallen. This is ironic in the whole scene being that she was old enough to make a parent for the white hunter. In addition, the treatment at the hospital where she takes medicine for her grandson is absurd when the nurse shouts at Phoenix asking her whether she is deaf (Welty, 1998). The literary elements play a significant role in building the theme of the story. Ironical situations, for instance, form a core area of theme domination strengthening and bringing out the theme vividly.  

In summary, the story, a worn path has a dominant theme of racism dominating the whole story. It is a touching story with lingering feelings of readers making reflections and drawing pictures of particular events. Consequently, stylistic devices present in the story including symbolism and irony contribute significantly to the theme of the book. The book, therefore, is vital in steering and motivating life activities, which can be helpful for anybody.