A Worn Path By Eudora Welty Essay Eudora Welty, A Worn Path, Symbol,

Phoenix Jackson’s name which symbolizes the legend of the mythological phoenix bird is the first type of symbol seen in the story. A phoenix is mythological bird that turns to ashes upon dying and is born again from the ashes. It represents our capacity for vision, for collecting sensory information about our environment and the events unfolding within it. Phoenix Jackson uses her sensory information to get across the log in the pinewoods. The author notes, â€Å"Putting her right foot out, she mounted the log and shut her eyes. Lifting her skirt, lev... ... finds herself back to reality. The third type of symbol seen in the story is an object. Phoenix completes her journey and obtains medicine for her grandson. Earlier in the story, she risks stealing the hunter’s nickel that falls on the ground to buy her grandson something. With the money, Phoenix stops on the way home to buy her grandson a windmill. The windmill symbolizes the love she has for her grandson. Welty writes: This is what comes to me to do, she said, I’ll go to the store and buy my child a little windmill they sells, made out of paper. He going to find it hard to believe there such thing in the world. I’ll march myself back where he waiting, holding it straight up in this hand (240).Even though, Phoenix has had a long and hard journey she still stops and buys her grandson a windmill on the way home showing the unconditional love she has for him.