The journey that takes place in Eudora Weltys, A Worn Path truly is a special symbol. The journey is a symbol of the hard fought freedom African Americans have won. Old Phoenix, the main character, symbolizes the Africans that had been looked down upon, that fought for their rights. Old Phoenixs grandson symbolizes the future. The medicine, Old Phoenix journeys out to get for her grandson symbolizes the faith of the African Americans who had fought racism. The faith is the key to her grandsons and others freedom. Old Phoenix encounters some things and these encounters have special significances.
The encounters symbolize the hardships Africans of the 1930s and before go trough before their rights are recognized. Before knowing where Old Phoenix is off to, she is described as very old and small. She uses a cane in the dark pine shadows during a frozen December day. An old lady stuck in a frozen place is the first symbol of struggle. Old Phoenix comes upon some animals that are other symbol of hardships. But determined Old Phoenix yells Out of my way…keep out from under these feet….I got a long way. The reader becomes aware of Old Phoenix and foreshadows she wont give up until she reaches her final destination.
Old Phoenix encounters hills and she shows signs of weakness as she says, Seems like there is chains upon my feet. A trembling Old Phoenix encounters thorns but after scolding the thorns stands free. She later comes upon a creek that she must cross. Here she must face the hardest challenge so far. She must cross the creek by walking on a log to the other side. As Old Phoenix rests she dreams of a boy giving her marble cake and as she reaches for it the boy disappears. This is a sign that life is not easy. If you need something you have to go get it.
The Term Paper on The African American Journey
The history of African Americans is, to a significant degree, the history of the United States. Black people accompanied the first explorers, and a black man was among the first to die in the American Revolution. The United States, with more than 38 million Blacks, has the eighth-largest Black population in the world. Despite the large number, Blacks in this country have had almost no role in ...
This is something African Americans had to realize in the 30s and before then. As if trying to escape something, Old Phoenix must get passed barb wire and makes it but when she comes upon dead trees they resemble black men working the cotton fields. Was she too comparing her journey to fighting the hardships of slavery? Old Phoenix comes upon a hunter and his dog. She picks up a nickel that he had dropped. What could this mean? The hunter tells her that she should be home because an old lady should not be out by herself. The reader finds out that old Phoenix is going to town when she responded to the hunter, I bound to go to town, mister. Old Phoenix is just too strong of a women to stop.
Old Phoenix as expected makes it to town and enters a doctors office. A conversation with a nurse gives the reason why she goes to town. Every little while his throat began to close up again, and he not able to swallow(grandson).
He not get his breath…………So the time come around, and I go on another trip for soothing medicine. She gets the medicine and five pennies from a nurse because it was Christmas time. With this and the nickel from the hunter, Old Phoenix decides to buy her grandson a windmill.
The non stop spinning of a windmill symbolizes freeness and freedom is what she can now offer her grandson as she lifts her free hand, gives a little nod, turns around and walks out the doctors office. Then her slow step begins on the stairs, going down. The journey in Eudora Weltys, A Worn Path is a significant symbol. Along with Old Phoenix and the medicine(faith) she brings to her grandson, the journey symbolizes freedom for blacks. The encounters, as well, are symbols that symbolize the hardships that lead up to the freedom. Without these tremendous hardships, Africans might not of had a reason for fighting for freedom.