Conflict in A Worn Path A major theme in A Worn Path is revealed through the conflict that occurs between Phoenix, the main character, and her surrounding characters. An analysis of the external forces acting on Phoenix propels her to new levels of understanding of herself and the world she inhabits. Conflict within A Worn Path takes form in both the interactions Phoenix has with the other characters in A Worn Path and in her own internal struggle.
A worn path, is one that has been travelled many times before, A Worn Path tells of the travels of an elderly woman through a metaphorical “worn path” in order to secure medicine for her ill grandson. A Worn Path begins when Phoenix catches sight of the children whom she will encounter on her journey to town; she hears them refusing to include her within their game because she is old and black (Welty 1139). Her race makes her different from the white children, but not less human; this act symbolizes how society can ostracize individuals based on social constructions.
A man was blocking her way which she over came by smuggling the medicine in her stockings. A worn path is something passed through or done repeatedly making it commonly known, hard to walk through. A conflict in this story is an opposition between two well defined characters where one has a goal and tries but fails to achieve it, obstructing his/her progress towards the goal. A Worn Path shows that persistence pays off in order to achieve your goals in life.
Eudora Weltys A Worn Path portrays a theme of endurance and determination as a prevalent element throughout the text on a general level as well as specific passages within the text on a textual level through the protagonist Phoenix Jackson’s journey towards town for medicine for her sick grandson. A Worn Path is a story in which the protagonist, Phoenix Jackson, embarks on a journey to town to acquire medicine for her sick grandson (Gale Literature Resource Center).
A few pages into A Worn Path , Welty introduces the antagonist of the story in the form of an unidentified white man blocking the way and demanding money from Phoenix to pass through. Conflict appears in A Worn Path when Phoenix and the white man argue over where she should go and who should pay: “Go around,” he said in a voice like iron. It was cold as ice. She could not see his face clear but she could feel him looking down at her, coldly ; his hand still held fast to that black pump handle, and in his other hand was a long white cane. A Worn Path is a story of perseverance in the face of obstacles.
A Worn Path presents the protagonist Phoenix Jackson’s journey to town for medicine for her sick grandson which becomes an arduous task when she encounters an obstacle blocking her path; after overcoming this obstacle, Phoenix reaches her goal (Oxford Reference). A worn path is something that has been walked through or done repeatedly making it commonly known and difficult to walk through A conflict occurs when two well defined characters have goals and they try but fail to achieve them, obstructing his/her progress towards the goals; one character tries but fails to overcome the opposition (Dictionary. om).
A conflict in A Worn Path is a conflict between Phoenix Jackson and the man that is blocking her path. A worn path is said to have been walked through many times before making it difficult for one to walk through A worn path can be compared to a conflict because they both make something more challenging A Worn Path , set in December 1939, begins with an old Negro woman walking across a dry field toward town.
The town’s name is never mentioned, Welty simply refers to it as “town. ” A worn path starts off as an old sickly woman walking from her home towards a place that she has made a routine of going to every day without fail A Worn Path reveals that Phoenix Jackson, the protagonist/narrator, who is an elderly black woman, walks this path to town for medicine, specifically “pills,” for her sick grandson (Gale Literature Resource Center).
Conflict is a major theme in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty. Conflict is shown between multiple characters and within the protagonist, Phoenix Jackson herself. A key example of this conflict would be Mr. Head and his son versus the white hunters and their dogs. A second example of this would be sighted and unsighted Phoenix Jackson. A third example would be the old Phoenix versus the young woman, known as “Death”. A fourth example would be represented by Light versus Darkness, where Light represents life and hope while darkness represents death and despair.
A final example of conflict in A Worn Path is the presence of good versus evil through the interactions between characters. Conflict can also be seen within characters themselves, which provides multiple conflicts per every character in A Worn Path. The first example of conflict within A Worn Path is between Mr. Head and his son versus the white hunters and their dogs at roughly page two of A Worn Path. This clash occurs when Mr. Head tells his son to wait up for him before setting out on a walk for some whiskey, but he does not tell his son where they are going.
A dog then scares Mr. Head’s son and the hunters beat him before setting their dogs on Mr. Head to catch him as well. The conflict ends at this point with the hunters capturing both Mr. Head and his son, who is severely injured in this altercation, leaving A Worn Path having no protagonist or antagonist for its remainder until Phoenix Jackson passes away near the end of A Worn Path, signifying her death rather than her passing away from old age like many would originally assume until she dies at the foot of Light Versus Darkness without response before meeting death.
The second example of conflict within A Worn Path is between sighted and unsighted Phoenix Jackson, who is nearsighted. A Worn Path starts off with the protagonist, Phoenix Jackson, taking her grandson’s hand as she takes him to school despite the fact that he asks her numerous times not to do so. This conflict ends at roughly page four of A Worn Path when Phoenix stops holding the child’s hand and releases it after he becomes frightened by a dog.
The conflict can be considered resolved because of how Phoenix lets go of his hand once she sees that he is afraid. The third example of conflict within A Worn Path occurs between old and young Phoenix Jackson starting at about page four A Worn Path until roughly six pages later where she enters Light Versus Darkness on A worn path wearing different clothing than what she had previously been wearing.
A key example of this conflict is when Phoenix Jackson, old and wearing tattered clothing, gets her foot caught in the fence at the beginning A Worn Path, pulling off “one shoe” which causes her to experience pain. A contrast between these two characters is seen again at Light Versus Darkness where young Phoenix wears white clothing while old Phoenix now wears torn clothing with dried blood on it.
The fourth example of conflict within A Worn Path can be represented by good versus evil through the interactions of characters rather than within any specific character itself. A key example of this would be that despite Mr. Head’s initial harsh personality he does end up buying medicine for his son during their struggle with the hunters instead of letting him die as one character suggests and as would be common considering the time A Worn Path was published in.
A second example of this can be seen through Phoenix Jackson’s interactions with Light Versus Darkness, where she is helped on A worn path by two people before one of them leaves while the other stays to help her into town as well as letting her rest for a bit before finally pushing her over into town instead of leaving her there to die at A worn path like some may assume he would after witnessing the death of old Phoenix.
