The Use of Symbolism in a Worn Path - Essay Example

The Use of Symbolism in Worn Path: Useful Ideas

Life is full of surprises. Unexpected hurdles are a common occurrence, and many unforgettable experiences will meet an individual at every turn. Despite all these twists, though, there’s much to live for, and joyous occasions are bound to come about, giving new meaning and purpose to an individual’s life. In A Worn Path, readers see the struggles faced by a woman, Phoenix Jackson, while also discovering her motivation for overcoming these challenges, to proceed with her journey.

In the story, we see her caught up in a thorny bush, and this acts to pause her journey momentarily, for she must untangle herself from the thorns before she can proceed. Along this worn path, too, she meets up with a white hunter, and after conversing for a while, she resumes on her way to buy a paper mill for her grandson. In all these encounters that Jackson comes across, symbolism is used extensively to effectively engage the readers and teach profound life lessons. Accordingly, the tale becomes less about a lady strolling through woody paths, and more about the challenges she encounters.

The Thorny Bush

As Jackson walks through the woods, her dress gets caught in a bush of thorns. While this is the first obstacle she faces on this worn path, she remains unfazed. Rather than cancel her journey, she is determined to proceed and get to the town. Accordingly, she begins to free herself from the thorns while expressing overall positivity at the same time. She takes her time and slowly picks the thorns from her dress before proceeding with her journey. Phoenix bears no ill feelings for the bush either.

According to her, the thorns are doing the function they were meant to do. The author uses thorns as a symbol to show one of the struggles Jackson undergoes and how she responds to these struggles. By extension, these thorns also represent everyone’s periodic struggles. With her reaction towards the thorny bush, readers are also challenged to adopt such positivity in the face of their own challenges.

In the story, readers also get to understand that Phoenix had at first thought the bush to be harmless as its thorns were concealed. While Jackson expected a pleasant experience from the bush, things turned out poorly. Accordingly, the thorny bush also symbolizes many life experiences today. While an individual might plan, it is not possible to account for all potential obstacles that might arise. To continue in search of a paper windmill, Jackson must first overcome the thorns. The bush plays a significant role in Jackson Phoenix’s journey, as they represent the challenges and obstacles that, while appearing troublesome at first, can be overcome with little effort.

The Young White Hunter

Phoenix next comes into contact with a young hunter plus his dog. The narrative also describes the hunter’s race as being white. It is among the first traits Phoenix notices, and it helps explain the racial undertones in the dialogue with the hunter. In the dialogue that ensues, Phoenix notes that her conversation with him is markedly different. It is unlike anything she’s used to from interacting with the towns’ people. The hunter makes such a big impression on Ms. Jackson that she is reminded of the younger days in her past. The first impression made on him, when they encounter Phoenix stuck in a ditch, is that she must be lost.

On calling her out and realizing her age, and the condition of her clothes, he continues to conclude that Phoenix Jackson could be crazy or homeless based on how rugged her clothes appear. He conclude too that she must be at least 100 years of age meaning that she had seen a lot of battles in her time.

In the ensuing conversation, the hunter helps Jackson with some advice telling her that staying at home is safer for her; for there, no harm will come to her. While Jackson confirms that she’s seen her fair of violence, this confirmation nevertheless confirms the society’s racial bias, as the hunter wishes no harm to her but advises her to stay inside and avoid the violence outside.

The Paper Windmill

The author also uses a paper windmill as a symbol, and we see Jackson making the trip to purchase it for her grandchild. It symbolizes significant aspects of Phoenix Jackson’s life and her journey in the narrative. Jackson purchases the windmill using two nickels, the only cash she has left. As explained, she purchases this paper windmill for her grandson, who was the reason she had undertaken this journey.

Although this action might be minimal, looking at the narrative’s full picture reveals that this minor symbolism joins the entire story together. The mill reveals that selflessness is one of Ms. Jackson’s greatest values.The mill symbolizes acts of generosity and selflessness that should be common traits of every person in their lifetime. Jackson undertook a tedious journey, fraught with peril to get to the town, with the sole intention of making her grandson happy by purchasing a paper windmill for him. With the decision, readers get to glimpse at the selflessness of the decision, for at her age, the journey was definitely going to be exceedingly tedious.

In one of the final paragraphs, readers get to glimpse at Jackson’s building excitement as she thinks of the joy the mill will bring to her grandson’s face. Her primary concern is making her grandchild happy and ensuring that he is entertained. Jackson does not mind how long the journey is for all she can see in her head is her grandson’s beaming face when she returns, and this gives her the strength to proceed with her journey. Back at home, her grandson thinks she went to find some medicine, so Jackson knows that he will be taken by surprise, and she looks forward to it. Accordingly, the reader comes to understand that the author’s narrative, A Worn Path, better. In the resulting impressions made, the author gives more insight into Phoenix and different elements of her life so far. The author uses four symbols to tell her tale and communicate that life a person’s life full of multiple, unalike experiences that act to shape one’s life.

Instances of symbolism are widespread throughout the story. The author uses the stylistic device to deliver teachings about life. In the challenges, Phoenix Jackson faces while on the worn path as she heads to town, we can reflect on similar challenges we might have encountered. Just as Jackson overcomes the thorns in her way, we can draw inspiration and face challenges head-on too. Furthermore, the white hunter wishes no harm to her life but proceeds to warn her that it is better for her to stay inside if she wants to remain safe. Despite the long, tediousness and dangerous journey, Jackson continues in her search of a paper mill to bring to her grandchild. For it will bring unrivaled happiness to her grandson and he will smile with excitement for he’s never seen anything like it. Although she travels a worn path, with clothes that are equally rugged, Phoenix remains hopeful. The author uses the symbols above effectively to shows how life is full of trials and tribulations and how individuals should push through these challenges and find their own joy.