COMPARISON/CONTRAST

COMPARISON /CONTRAST

2008

Comparison /Contrast

Page 1

A Worn Path , written by Eudora Welty , which won the O . Henry Prize that very year as it was first published , is a short fiction story that has withstood the criticism and became a classic work of realistic South . The story that describes an old woman , Phoenix Jackson , who makes her trip through the woods , pain and suffering to get the medicine for her grandson , is enriched with symbolism , mythological and political elements , as well as religious approaches that are also reflected in

the writing . Disregarding the racial discrepancy , which was a stumbling block for the contemporary critics , the writer is aiming to show more deep concerns of dedication , eagerness to serve , and struggle in a simple , yet skillful , tone and style , and using a plain language

The first evident thing of the Worn Path ' is a tone that seems to be simple , but it just the deceitful impression of mind . As the reader keeps going through the lines of the story , he finds that it is rich of symbolism and shadowed meanings . The story is not limited by the scope of the Old Natchez Trace and represents a remarkable combination of legend and symbols . Even the name of the writing is hiding a notion of every human 's life , who is making his path through the thorns and different obstacles to something that may bring healing and life to others as well as to himself . It is worn because it is an everyday journey , which has to be done for it is a constant craving for action and the sense of life itself . Without a path , man is loosing the meaning of life and the reason to live

On the other hand , the old woman 's name , Phoenix , is a symbolic representation of the bird from the Egyptian myth . This very Phoenix was able to rise from the ashes every 500 years , therefore , after the destruction it found strength to raise up and live again . This very symbol was the core principle of woman 's life , she knew that her grandson , who is not able to help himself , needs someone to support his living and if she does not find strength enough to reach the town and get the medicine , she will loose him . But we is the only two left in the world [and] he going to last (Welty ,

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Comparison /Contrast

Page 2

Since the Worn Path ' is written from the point of view of a third person , the style of the story allows the reader to look at all characters from the distance and evaluate them , just like the others who could see her , were able to do . And again the comparison gives us the chance to uncover the true meaning of a simple paragraph . Welty has used a number of direct comparisons , or similes , to help the reader uncover another idea . From the very start , the reader finds the image of Jackson : Her skin had a pattern...