Life is full of twists and turns, unexpected obstacles, and experiences never forgotten. Eudora Welty writes A Worn Path with a sense of symbolism that captures the struggles and pleasures of life. Welty uses symbolism as a bridge to connect the reader to their own internal battles and give A Worn Path a deeper meaning than that of an old lady walking in the woods. Phoenix Jackson is an elderly woman and the protagonist of this story, whose worn clothes and wrinkled face demonstrate that her life has been nothing but unforgettable experiences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The thorn bush is one of the first symbols that appears in the story. Phoenix gets trapped in the bush and instead of letting it hold her back on her journey, she keeps moving forward. Among the people Phoenix Jackson meets on his journey, one of the most significant would be the young white hunter with the black dog. The dialogue he uses with Phoenix Jackson is noticeably different from what she uses with the people she meets in the city, and he has an impression of her that hints at her life and the way she grew up. The third symbol is the paper windmill Phoenix Jackson buys for his nephew. Although it is a minor symbol, it ties the entire story together using simplistic symbolism to signal how selflessness is one of the keys to Phoenix Jackson's lifestyle. In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, Wetly uses minor symbols and significant characters to impress the reader as she learns more about Phoenix Jackson and her life choices. Welty uses a thorn bush, a young hunter and his dog, and a paper windmill to tie together the idea that life is full of all kinds of experiences that will shape your life in one way or another , no matter how big or small they may be. be.On her way to town, Phoenix Jackson gets her dress caught in a bush. She takes the time to extricate herself from the thorns and explains to herself that the thorns are "simply doing what they were made to do." The thorns on this bush symbolize the struggles that Jackson faced throughout his life, or that everyone experiences at some point. When he mentions that the thorns are doing what they were made to do, he shows the reader that even the most inconvenient moments are bound to happen as they do, for one reason or another. “The old eye thought I was a pretty green bush,” Jackson says as she sits on the ground to untangle her skirt from the thorny bush. This phrase signals to readers that even if an experience was expected to be pleasant, things don't always happen as expected. The thorn bush is an obstacle that Phoenix Jackson must overcome to continue his journey. Although it is a small part of the story, the thorn bush plays an important role in Phoenix Jackson's journey because it symbolizes that not all obstacles appear to be problems at first, or are more problems than necessary. The young hunter with his dog arrives during Phoenix Jackson's journey and it is important to note that Welty indicates its breed: white. This leads to a series of conversations about the dialogue the hunter uses with Jackson and how it symbolizes racial issues. The hunter encounters Phoenix Jackson, or "Grandma" as he calls her, with her dog while in a creek. He sees that it is old and most likely lost. The dialogue changes to a more assertive tone between the two as the hunter realizes how old and what race Jackson is. She might be crazy or homeless because of how tattered she is. “Well, grandmother,” he said, “you must have a hundredyears and don't be afraid of anything. I'd give you a dime if I had some money on me. But take my advice and stay at home, and nothing will happen to you." Jackson confirms to the Hunter that she has dealt with violence in her time, confirming that this symbol connects to racial issues and unrest in the story. Since Jackson is old enough not to say his age, this shows that he lived through much of the story. The paper windmill is the last and smallest symbol that symbolizes life in Phoenix Jackson's journey along A Worn Path. The paper windmill is purchased with two nickels, all Jackson has left of his money. He buys it for his nephew, for whom he made the trip. The paper windmill symbolizes selflessness and generosity that should be given throughout a person's life. Jackson went out of his way to go to town to buy this paper windmill for his nephew with the last money he had. She shows that she cares more about the happiness of her grandchildren than about how boring and hard the journey can be, especially for someone her age. “I go to the store and buy my son a small windmill that they sell, made of paper. You will find it hard to believe that such a thing exists in the world. I will return to where he waits for me, holding him upright in this hand,” Jackson says in one of the final paragraphs of the story. This quote shows that she is more concerned with pleasing her grandson and making sure he has a good time than taking on such a long journey away from home. While he thinks she went to get some medicine, she will return and surprise him with a gift. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Symbolism is seen throughout the short film story of A Worn Path by Eudora Wetly. However, some of the most notable ones handle issues such as obstacles, race, and happiness. The thorn bush symbolizes how life contains difficult, boring and sometimes hidden or disguised obstacles. Jackson talks to the bush that he didn't even see the thorns, and that's what makes them such an obstacle. The young white hunter and his dog symbolize the racial problems Jackson had experienced throughout his long life. Jackson is old enough to have seen violence in her neighborhoods growing up and the young hunter doesn't want any trouble for her, so he asks her to come home and stay out of his way. The paper windmill symbolizes how love and happiness can overcome any obstacle in life that Jackson must overcome. Despite a long journey for Jackson, the happiness it would ultimately bring to his grandson made A Worn Path worth the journey. All these symbols show how life is full of different experiences and opportunities. Phoenix Jackson made the most of his life through his worn and ragged appearance described at the beginning of the story. Welty uses these symbols to show the trials and tribulations of life. Works Cited Baker, E.D. (1989). "Symbolism in Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path'." In E. D. Jones (Ed.), Masterplots II: Short Story Series (Vol. 7, pp. 3925-3927). Salem Press. Cowart, D. (1984). “The Phoenix Has No Cloak: Historicity, Eschatology, and Scapegoating in 'A Worn Path.'” Studies in Short Fiction, 21(1), 45-56. Duvall, J. D. (2004). "Overview of 'A Worn Path'." In Short Stories for Students (Vol. 19, pp. 1-15). Gale. Evans, R. C. (1973). “The Art of 'A Worn Path.'” The Southern Review, 9(1), 101-108.Friedmann, M. (1990). “The Inverted World of Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path'.” College Language Association Journal, 33(3), 282-289. Gaudet, M. (1989). "Life and Death in Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path'." In E. D. Jones (ed.),"., 37(2), 231-239.