A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

Explain how the theme of dedication is present in A Worn Path. What are specific examples of Phoenix's commitment?

The story “A Worn Path” starts out with a great sense of early morning; December to be exact when the weather is cool and yet warm by where she walks. Her name Phoenix is an important name; her name implies a mythological bird made of fire. “A phoenix is a mythical bird with a tail of beautiful gold and red plumage. It has a 500 year life-cycle, when it dies both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arises, reborn to live again.” Throughout the story many obstacles try to jump in and stop her path. First obstacle was when she was walking through the woods that “a bush caught her dress.” (pg 294) Or even when the sun is blocking her view and blinding her. Through the middle of her walk she gets tired and stops for a rest.

There she has an illusion an illusion of a young boy offering her a slice of marble cake. When she goes to reach for it, “there was just her own hand in the air.” (pg 295) “Something always takes a hold of me on this hill- pleads I should stay." (pg 294). It might be her age kicking in that also gets in her way. The Second obstacle that gets in her way is the Hunter. The hunter is the human obstacle; he’s trying to send her back home. At some point he points the gun in her face which is an extreme event. And she doesn't react at all. During the end when the nurse asked Phoenix why she went to town and made the trip, phoenix had forgotten. But after a few minutes she recalled. Reason she went to town was to get her grandson smoothing medicine to help out her grandson who had by mistake swallowed lye about 2 to 3 years ago. She endures everything that she has to go through every obstacle that comes her way. Like she mentioned in one of her interviews “She rose again like the Phoenix”.