A Worn Path - The Elements of Fiction
... her mind is evident from the beginning of the story: “Ghost, who be you the ghost of? For I have heard of nary death close by.” Finally, at the end of the story, a nurse jars Phoenix’ memory and she realizes why she has made this journey: “My grandson. It was my memory had left me.” Phoenix encounters racism along the way as well in the hunter’s statement: “I know you old colored people! Wouldn’t miss going to town to see Santa Claus!” It reflects the time when white people would never believe that this woman would make a trek on a regular basis to keep her grandson alive, it could not be comprehended. Phoenix is kind, considerate, loving and robust thus making her a round, fully developed character. The narrator’s objectivity gives the story more credibility allowing the reader to become engaged in the action making it more believable. The forest has an aura of death. Phoenix spots a buzzard sitting on top of an old tree. The buzzard represents death but Phoenix makes her way through the furrow and leaves “death”. She also encounters a scarecrow with black crows on it. The black crows symbolize death as well but Phoenix dances with the scarecrow as if celebrating the departure of death. Afterward she drinks from a spring symbolizing re-birth. Even her name suggests re-birth. The name Phoenix comes from the ancient Egyptian bird that regenerated itself after 500 years and lives on for another 500. Phoenix also looks death in the face when she falls into the raven and is knocked out. She was looking for a hand to give her a “pull” but nothing reached down to help her. The dream symbolizes God looking down upon Phoenix but she wasn’t ready to go to heaven. Old Phoenix has many more years to live and journeys to complete! The ambulatory journey Phoenix takes along a frozen path on this cold winter day, underlies the central theme of strength against all odds in “The Worn Path.” The dark path on which Phoenix travels, is in direct contrast to her character. She is a very lively pers...